In September, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al Thani donated the Boeing 747-8 plane, worth around $500 million, to the Turkish state, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Commenting on this situation, Erdogan stated that Turkey was interested in buying the jet.
“When the Qatar emir was informed of this he gave it as a gift, saying ‘I won’t take money from Turkey. I will give this plane as a gift,'” he stated adding that “the plane is not mine, it is the Turkish Republic’s”.
The Qatari decision is obviously linked to the Turkish backing of the Arab state in its conflict with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain. Previously, these states severed all diplomatic and trade links with the gas-rich state over its alleged close ties to Iran and its alleged support for terrorists – a charge it denies.
In August, Qatar’s emir approved a package of economic projects, investments and deposits worth $15bn to support Turkey’s economy and currency.
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