Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) destroyer ‘Murasame’ completed a three-day goodwill visit to Doha Port.
Departing from Yokosuka, Japan, on October 5, 2024, Murasame is set to sail to Bahrain and join anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. This is the fourth visit by a Japanese naval vessel to Qatar, following previous visits in 1991, 2001 and 2012, and the first visit by a destroyer, underscoring a deepening bilateral defence relationship between Qatar and Japan.
The destroyer, which houses over 200 personnel, hosted members of the Japanese community in Qatar on November 2, where approximately 180 individuals were given an onboard tour. On November 3, Staff Brig. Gen. Abdulrahman Yousuf Talfat, Commander of the Qatari Amiri Naval Operations Center, toured the Murasame and attended a luncheon hosted by Commander Masahiro Hayakawa. The day continued with a tour by the Japanese military attaché stationed in Qatar.
The visit culminated on November 4 with a joint training exercise between the Murasame crew, led by Commander Hayakawa, and Qatari Naval Vessel Al-Khor. The Murasame also hosted a photo exercise and other events aimed at strengthening ties and enhancing mutual understanding between the JMSDF and the Qatari Navy.