Qatar signs $8bn Typhoon fighter jet deal with the UK

On December 11, Qatar signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to buy 24 Typhoon fighters from Britain, its second major defence agreement during the worst political crisis in the region for years.

Qatar's Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah and his British counterpart, Gavin Williamson signed this $8-billion deal in Doha.

As per Williamson, it was the biggest order for Typhoons in a decade following a billion-dollar deal signed by Qatar on December 7 to buy 12 French Dassault Aviation warplanes.

"These formidable jets will boost the Qatari military's mission to tackle the challenges we both share in the Middle East, supporting stability in the region and delivering security at home," said the British minister.

An intention for Qatar to buy further military equipment from Britain, namely the purchase of Hawk aircraft is also included in the deal. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the two countries for this Typhoon contract in September, 2017. Qatar is the ninth country to sign a deal for Typhoon jets, said London.

There are heightened tensions in the Gulf, where a Saudi-led boycott of Qatar is in its seventh month.

Since June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have diplomatically isolated Qatar, accusing the emirate of supporting Islamist extremists and of being too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh's arch-rival. The four countries also cut off all air and sea links to Qatar.

Qatar refuses the allegations and has accused the Saudi- led bloc of aiming to incite regime change in Doha. It is the latest agreement in a growing list of defence deals signed by Qatar since the crisis erupted.