Turkey police is responsible for security during the World Cup 2022 in Qatar

Turkey will help Qatar ensure security during the World Cup in 2022.  The relevant provisions are contained in a bilateral protocol signed several months ago.  Most importantly, the document will continue to operate after a large-scale sporting event.  This gives reason to talk about the expansion of the Turkish presence in the emirate.

The text of the protocol signed between the Qatari and Turkish leaders suggests that countries will develop bilateral security cooperation, especially in the framework of world-wide events.  According to official statements, the agreement aims to strengthen strategic partnership on the eve of World Cup 2022.  The protocol, which is called the “Letter of Intention to cooperate in the implementation of mega-events,” was signed by Turkish Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs MukhteremInche and the Qatari Brigadier General Ibrahim Khalil al-Mohannadi, who heads the Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Supply and Heritage.

The Turkish state press notes that Ankara will also provide personnel support to the emirate as part of emergency operations and the fight against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.  Turkish police will also send officers to the Qatar Mining Service.  Collaboration under the protocol will include “anti-crime measures, counter-terrorism measures, participation in field missions related to mega-events”.  The text says that the parties will "exchange experience in the field of advanced training", which involves the exchange of study visits and bilateral meetings.  However, the most important thing is that Turkey will continue to provide security in the Qatari territory even after the end of the mundial.

In part, this gives reason to talk about Turkey’s plans to increase its presence in the emirate and, accordingly, in the Persian Gulf region.  Ankara’s plan to expand its military base in Qatar at the expense of the naval and air forces in addition to the ground forces was announced earlier.  Turkish authorities, experts say, want to make the base the headquarters of the combined forces.  So, at the beginning of this year, the number of Turkish troops at the facility in Qatar could grow by a thousand people.  Now in the emirate, 1,434 people are deployed from the Turkish ground forces, 272 from the Air Force and 228 from the Navy.  The headquarters will be staffed by 108 employees.  The service will be handled by a group of 758 people.  This automatically turns the Turkish contingent in Qatar into a brigade task force.

Ankara and Doha are part of a tactical alliance collaborating with Tehran.  In this regard, a former member of the Turkish parliament, AykanErdemir, who leads the Turkish program at the American Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, notes: the United States needs to develop a multi-level response to strengthen Qatari-Turkish ties.  Both countries are formal allies of the United States, but have a regional agenda that runs counter to American interests.