Qatar plans defense hub and regional security initiative

Qatar plans to establish a domestic defense production hub and launch a regional initiative to strengthen defenses against missiles, drones and cyberattacks, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Affairs Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said October 19 at the Global Security Forum in Doha. Al Thani said Qatar was working with an unnamed regional partner and the United States, the United Kingdom and France on the hub. Options include producing some defense equipment locally or investing in companies in the sector. He gave no timetable beyond saying the announcement would come soon, and did not identify the regional partner or specify what would be produced or invested in. A separate planned partnership with regional partners would build capabilities against ballistic missiles, drones and cyberattacks, Al Thani said. He described it as an initiative and did not provide further details. Qatar’s plans follow a defense review that identified air defense, cybersecurity and electronic warfare as priorities, according to his remarks. The minister also called for dialogue between Iran and the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Türkiye and Pakistan participating. He...