Russia, Qatar sign 'military and technical' cooperation agreement

Russian Defence Minister, Army General Sergey Shoigu and Qatari Minister of State for Defence Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah endorsed the deal, Russia's official news agency TASS said.

The representatives of Rosoboronexport and the Qatari Defense Ministry signed a memorandum and a frame contract on the military and technical cooperation in the two ministers' presence during an official visit to Doha, TASS reported.

"I hope that today's talks will serve the interest of further strengthening our cooperation in the military and technical fields," Shoigu said during his meeting with Attiyah.

"This visit underscores the determination of the friends of Doha in Russia to develop and strengthen bilateral cooperation with their country," the minister added.

The ministers also discussed a number of regional and international issues, particularly the Gulf crisis and its implications for regional security, as well as developments of the situation in Syria and international efforts to end the conflict, Qatar’s New Agency [QNA] reported.

The meeting also tackled the ongoing Saudi-led blockade of Qatar, which has continued for six months, and called for the international community to find urgent solutions to the crises of the region through establishing security and stability in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups across the region.

Qatar vehemently denies the allegations.

Russia's growing Gulf clients

Qatar's military deal with Russia is the latest to be signed in the Gulf region.

Earlier this month, Russian media claimed that Bahrain might be close to purchasing Moscow's latest anti-aircraft system the S-400, after Russia and Gulf superpower Saudi Arabia announced a major deal for the S-400 surface-to-air missiles during a visit by King Salman to al-Saud to Moscow.

Regional rival Iran has purchased the earlier S-300 model and is looking to obtain what defence analysts believe to be the far superior newer model.

Egypt and Qatar are also reportedly trying to purchase the S-400.

But despite Russia's recent entry to the Gulf market, its ambitions are dwarfed by recent US arms deals.

During Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia in May, Washington revealed a historic $350 billion arms deal with Riyadh.