Qatar diplomatic crisis: Recep Erdogan ratifies troop deployment to Gulf nation

Ankara: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ratified two deals allowing Turkish troops’ deployment to Qatar and training the Gulf nation’s gendarmerie, according to the presidency. Erdogan signed off deals on the Turkish Parliament’s approval late on Thursday night, Xinhua news agency reported. [caption id=“attachment_3535423” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AP[/caption] The first deal, signed in Doha in April 2016, allows Turkish troops to improve Qatar’s army and boost military cooperation. The second deal, signed in December 2015 between the two interior ministries, allows the Turkish gendarmerie to train Qatari gendarmerie forces. The move came after Erdogan expressed disapproval of the sanctions imposed on Qatar by several Arab countries earlier this week. Erdogan also said that Turkey “will continue and develop” ties with Qatar. Earlier in the week, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania and the Maldives snapped their diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the Gulf state of supporting “terrorism and extremism”. Qatar has stoutly refuted the allegations.