Qatar announced the conclusion of a nearly $6 billion deal with Italy to buy seven naval vessels during a visit by the Italian foreign minister in Doha, Qatar.

During a joint press conference on Wednesday between both countries’ foreign ministers, Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said this deal is within a larger military cooperation program framework. The ministers also signed other agreements between the investment agencies in both countries to consider joint projects and exchanges of opportunities between Italy and Qatar.

The Italian and Qatari Foreign Ministers during a joint press conference in Doha, Qatar on Aug. 2, 2017. Photo: Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Italian and Qatari Foreign Ministers during a joint press conference in Doha, Qatar on Aug. 2, 2017. Photo: Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We have strong political and economic relations with Italy and important cooperation in defense and security fields along with the continued political consultation between the two countries,” the Qatar Foreign Minister said at the press conference.

The seven-ship deal was initially signed in June 2016, with the Qatari Defence Ministry and Italy’s Fincantieri. That initial deal, worth about $4.8 billion to the company, planned for seven surface vessels including four corvettes over 100 meters long, one landing platform dock amphibious vessel, and two offshore patrol vessels. The earlier deal also envisioned support services in Qatar for 15 years beyond.

That earlier signing said all seven units will be built in Italian Fincantieri shipyards starting in 2018 and take up to six years to complete production.

Later that month MBDA’s Italian subsidiary signed a contract to supply Qatar’s navy with $1 billion in Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship, Aster 30 Block 1, and Vertical Launch MICA air defense missiles for use on the newly procured vessels (Defense Daily, June 29, 2016).

During the trip Angelino Alfano, the Italian minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also met with the CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority; Prime Minister and of the Interior, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani; Qatari Minister of Defense Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah; and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.