Britain's security will be strengthened through a new defence
agreement signed with Qatar on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed by the Defence Secretary during his
visit to Doha, where he met with the Amir of Qatar, His Highness
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The new enhanced Defence
Assurance Arrangement deepens the UK's defence partnership with
Qatar, paving the way for enhanced interoperability across land,
air and sea.
The agreement sees the UK and Qatar commit to increasing
interoperability between our Armed Forced and conducting joint
planning on threat scenarios to ensure we can better face the
threats of tomorrow together.
It underlines the UK's unwavering commitment to supporting the
defence of Qatar as a key partner in the region, and to
strengthen the wider strategic partnership between Qatar and the
UK.
Britain's partnership with Qatar extends beyond defence. UK
exports to Qatar reached £4.4 billion in 2025, whilst Qatari
investment in Britain stands at more than £40 billion, supporting
jobs across fintech, life sciences, renewable energy and cyber
security sectors throughout the UK.
Whilst Qatar is a key regional security partner, defence
investment leader, it is also a big investor in the UK with their
investment in our country currently standing at approximately £40
billion.
While in Qatar, the Defence Secretary also joined His Excellency
Sheikh Saoud Bin Ali Al-Thani in co-chairing a discussion
covering the latest security developments in the region.
Defence Secretary, MP, said:
Qatar and the UK are close partners with historic defence ties
going back decades. This partnership bolsters the national
security of both our nations and supports stability in the Gulf
region.
Today, we build on that proud legacy by starting a new chapter in
our partnership, as we strengthen the bonds between our
militaries and defence industries.
This is part of our drive to strike new defence deals to
strengthen our alliances and our UK defence industry.
Later in the day, the Defence Secretary visited Al Udeid Air Base
where he met with Group Captain Jim Mastin, Deputy Air Component
Commander, and personnel from the Royal Air Force's 83
Expeditionary Air Group.
During the visit, he was briefed on recent operational
developments and toured the Combined Air Operations Centre.
The arrangement builds on the success of the UK-Qatar Joint
Typhoon Squadron, the UK's first joint fighter jet squadron since
the Second World War. This unique partnership will provide to
foundation to jointly enhance our air defence capabilities and
strengthen operational cooperation between British and Qatari
armed forces.
Aligning with the government's Plan for Change, the agreement
demonstrates how Britain's global partnerships strengthen
national security through modernised armed forces and
international cooperation whilst delivering tangible benefits at
home through job creation and economic growth.
