By Giwa SHILE
The Emir of Qatar, an ally of the U.S., on Wednesday pledged to invest 15 billion dollars in Turkey following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, state media reported.
State news agency Anadolu said the meeting between Erdogan and Qatar’s Tamim Al-Thani lasted for more than three hours.
Anadolu shared footage of Erdogan hugging his Qatari counterpart in front of the presidential complex.
Al-Thani’s visit comes as Turkey is grappling with a currency crisis and heightened tensions with the U.S.
He is the first foreign head of state to visit Ankara since the start of a stand-off between Ankara and Washington on Aug. 10.
Al-Thani is in Turkey to show the “big support of the Qatari state,” Anadolu separately quoted Qatari Ambassador to Ankara, Salem Al-Shafi as saying on Wednesday.
“Qatar will continue to stand by its Turkish brothers as it did during the failed coup attempt in 2016,” Al-Shafi said.
The ambassador added that Qatari people purchased millions of Turkish lira to support Ankara against the “economic operation,” according to Anadolu.
In 2018, Turkey sided with Qatar when the tiny energy-rich Gulf emirate was boycotted by an Arab quarter led by Saudi Arabia over its alleged support for terrorism.
Doha has denied the charge.
On Wednesday, Turkey raised tariffs on a number of U.S.-made products in tit-for-tat moves between the two NATO allies.
Qatar hosts a major U.S. military base. Turkey also has a military base and troops there.
