While the new agreements among Israel, Bahrain and the UAE reshape Middle Eastern dynamics, Qatar is enhancing its position working with European allies.
A recent article on the UK’s Ministry of Defence website highlighted a deepening relationship with Qatar.
During a joint visit to RAF Coningsby on October 14, 2020, the defense ministers of Qatar and the UK reinforced the two countries defense working relationships.
During a tour of the base, which is already home to the UK-Qatari joint Typhoon squadron, the two Defence Ministers signed a Statement of Intent setting out how the UK will offer a British base for the Qatari Emiri Air Force’s (QEAF) recently acquired nine Hawk aircraft.
The QEAF’s latest acquisition opens doors for a potential new UK-Qatari Hawk squadron, which would further deepen the UK’s defence relationship with Qatar and contribute to the security and stability of the Middle East.
Qatar and the UK work closely together to protect that stability. The details of the latest strike by RAF Reaper unmanned aircraft against Daesh have also been released today by the Ministry of Defence that were co-ordinated by the RAF’s No.83 Expeditionary Air Group in Al Udeid, Qatar.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
“Today we mark the start of an exciting new chapter in the longstanding defence relationship between the UK and Qatar, reinforcing and strengthening the bonds our Armed Forces already share.
“Building upon the success of our joint Typhoon squadron, this new era of collaboration will deliver prosperity and security benefits for both our nations.”
The Defence Secretary and His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs in Qatar, also officially opened the joint Typhoon squadron (12 Squadron) headquarters during their visit to RAF Coningsby today.
12 Squadron is the UK’s first joint squadron since World War Two, and its new headquarters will allow pilots and air crews from both air forces to train together in state-of-the-art facilities.
Built in under 60 weeks by a team of over 30 sub-contractors from both national and local supply chains, it is expected that the basing of a new Hawk squadron will bring similar benefits to the UK.
Since commencing flying as a joint squadron in June 2020, 12 Squadron have achieved several milestones including training with heavy weapons and taking part in an exercise at sea alongside the Royal Navy.
The Statement of Intent will build on this work by providing the RAF with access to increased flying hours, giving the QEAF access to world-class RAF accredited training, and delivering long-term investment in infrastructure and training facilities to the RAF.
This partnership will also enable the two nations to continue discussions to establish a suitable air-to-air refuelling support solution for Qatar, which would see the RAF and QEAF further aligned on Multi Role Tanker Transport capability.
Today’s event builds upon the Defence Secretary’s talks with HE Dr Khalid during his visit to Qatar in September, where he also toured the Combined Air Operations Centre in Al Udeid, where strikes are coordinated from as part of Operation Shader.
The Italian Dimension
A September 18, 2020 article published on the Italian Ministry of Defence website highlighted the launch of the first patrol ship being built in Italy for the Qatari Navy.
Today, at Fincantieri Muggiano Shipyard, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini and Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohammad al Attiyah have attended the launch of the first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), based on Fincantieri – Qatar procurement agreement.
The ceremony was attended also by Fincantieri Chairman Giampiero Massolo and CEO Giuseppe Bono, and Italian Ambassador to Qatar Alessandro Prunas.
Today’s launch is part of a broader € 4B contract which includes the procurement of 7 new-generation surface vessels: 4 corvettes, 1 amphibious ship and 2 patrol vessels. The 2016 Qatar-Fincantieri contract was signed within the framework of an Italy-Qatar Gov-to-Gov agreement.
This is the largest contract signed by Fincantieri with a foreign Navy, and one of the largest on the surface vessel market recently signed at the global level. The first corvette was already launched, while the second and third are in the making and the he sheet metal cutting of the fourth one has taken place today.
“Italy and Qatar have had very strong relations for quite some time, as shown by today’s launch. Fincantieri confirms to be a top company, an industry with a growing global vocation, that has recently won the contract for the US Navy new generation frigates, besides being the reference partner for the Italian Navy “, Minister Guerini said.
Addressing his Qatari counterpart, he declared:”I hope that Qatar will be fully satisfied with this product of an Italian excellency such as Fincantieri.
Besides the industrial aspect of today’s event, this is a fundamental step for the strategic partnership between Italy and Qatar which, starting from the naval contract, for the last few years has seen an exponential growth in the relationship between our Armed Forces, including important developments in the land and aeronautics sectors.”
