Turkiye will always stand by Qatar in enhancing its security and defence capabilities, Ambassador of Turkiye to the State of Qatar HE Dr Mustafa Goksu has said. He lauded the brotherly and close strategic bilateral relations between the two countries as both Qatar and Turkiye share a profound bond rooted in common values, shared aspirations, and a steadfast commitment to regional stability.
The envoy commented at a reception hosted on the deck of the visiting Turkish Naval TCG Kinaliada Corvette at Doha Port. The reception was hosted by the Turkish ambassador and Commander Serkan Dogan, Commanding Officer of TCG Kinaliada, on Wednesday night.
Present on the occasion were Maj. Gen. Ertunc Ertufanli, Turkish Armed Forces; Commander Serkan Dogan, Commanding Officer TCG Kinaliada,Senior Qatari Naval officials, ambassadors, defence attaches of various countries and guests.
The Turkish envoy said, “The visit by Turkey’s naval corvette to this vibrant port symbolizes more than just a military visit. It is a testament to the deep and enduring ties and solidarity that bind our nations together in the pursuit of peace, security, and mutual prosperity.”
In his welcoming address on board, Commander Serkan Dogan, Commanding Officer of TCG Kinaliada, said that collaboration in the defence sector between the Republic of Turkiye and the State of Qatar is a shining example of this enduring partnership. “Over the years, we have cultivated a resolute relationship based on trust, respect, and a shared vision for a peaceful and secure future.”
He said the voyage, the fifth of its kind, commemorates the great loss of 1890 when the Turkish Ertuğrul Frigate on its way back home from Japan’s friendly visit in September 1890 was hit by bad weather and sank. Since then, the tragedy has been marked as a landmark of the friendship between Türkiye and Japan.
Talking about TCG Kinaliada-Ada (Island), Kinali named after one of the famous Princess Islands near Istanbul, he said this is the fourth vessel produced under Türkiye’s MİLGEM project; the Ada Class Corvette TCG Kınalıada set sail from İzmir in April to mark the 100th anniversary of Turkish-Japanese diplomatic relations and the 134th anniversary of the date the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul set sail for Japan.
He said the mission aims to enhance the visibility of the Turkish Naval Forces, introduce national platforms, and strengthen bilateral relations with the countries to be visited during the voyage.
TCG Kınalıada’s port calls include 24 ports in 20 countries namely, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Somalia, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Jordan.
He said the visit of TCG Kinaliada witnessed close relations between both the naval forces; an earlier visit of TCG Burgazada to Doha two years ago had successfully contributed to the safety and security of Qatar during the historical World Cup 2022 hosted by Qatar.
He said, “The Turkish defence industry is meeting almost 80 % of domestic requirements and in the next five years, we have our target of 100 % self-sufficient.”
“As the Turkish corvette makes its port call in Doha, we are reminded of the critical importance of maritime security in safeguarding our nations. The seas are the lifelines of our economies, the pathways of our commerce, and the frontiers of our security,” he noted.
Turkish navy’s Ertuğrul Frigate was built in Istanbul Shipyard in 1874 and had 25 cannons of various diameters, two torpedoes and around 240 rifles. The frigate, 79 metres long, 15.5 metres wide and 600 horsepower, set off from Istanbul on 14 July 1889 with a crew of 609 sailors, 56 of whom were officers.
The frigate stopped at Suez, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Fukushi, Nagasaki and Kobe respectively. After an 11-month journey, it finally reached Yokohama Port, east of Tokyo.
The Chairman of the Delegation, Ali Osman Pasha, accepted by the Emperor of Japan Meiji, presented the letter and medal sent by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II to Meiji.
On the way back home in September 1890, the frigate met with severe bad weather and sank.
