The logo of the Organization of the Petroleoum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is seen at OPEC's headquarters in Vienna, Austria June 19, 2018.
Qatar is withdrawing from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as of January 2019, Saad al-Kaabi, the country’s energy minister said on Monday.
The decision came after Qatar, one of OPEC’s smallest producers but the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter, reviewed ways to enhance its role internationally and plan long-term strategy, including focusing on its gas industry, he said.
“Qatar has decided to withdraw its membership form OPEC effective January 2019 and this decision was communicated to OPEC this morning,” he told a news conference, adding that Qatar would still attend an OPEC meeting in Vienna this week.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday that his country and Qatar have supported one another in hard times, and proved to be a true friend many times.“Turkish nation showed intense efforts to break the blockade and sanctions targeting its Qatari brothers,” Erdoğan said during the 4th meeting of Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee in Istanbul.In June of last year, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain collectively severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups.The Saudi-led axis also imposed a land, sea and air blockade on Qatar, with Riyadh sealing the Abu Samra border crossing linking the two Gulf states.Video: President Erdoğan, Qatari emir sign agreements in IstanbulErdoğan added that Doha was the strongest international supporter of Turkey after the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.The meeting held at the Vahdettin Pavilion was jointly presided over by Erdoğan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.Erdoğan also said he was proud by the level of cooperation between the two countries on the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.“[Qatar] has stood with us in front of the speculative initiatives targeting our economy in the recent months,” he said and thanked Qatar on behalf of the Turkish nation and himself.Al-Thani, for his part, also voiced pleasure for the level of bilateral relations and expressed his will to boost cooperation in every field.Following the meeting Turkish and Qatari ministers signed a strategic cooperation protocol in the fields including transportation, culture, trade and economy.Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin were also present at the meeting along with Qatari officials.
Turkey and Qatar prove to be true friends, says Erdoğan
The announcement comes ahead of the meeting by OPEC and its allies including Russia on Dec. 6-7 to discuss cutting supply.
The minister said the decision was not easy as Qatar has been in OPEC for 57 years, but that the country’s impact on OPEC production decisions was small.
He stressed that Doha would continue to abide by all its commitments like any other non-OPEC oil producer.
Qatar expects the first six F-15 fighter jets to be delivered to the country's air force by March 2021, a military official said on Monday.An additional six fighter jets will be delivered two to three months after the initial batch is received and then four more every three months, Brigadier General Issa al-Mahannadi told reporters at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar.Qatar signed a deal to buy 36 F-15 war planes from the United States in 2017. 
Qatar expects first six F-15 fighter jets delivered by March 2021
The withdrawal decision reflects Qatar’s intent to focus its efforts on developing its natural gas industry, the minister said, as the Gulf Arab state moves to increase LNG production from 77 million to 110 million tonnes annually.
He said the decision was not linked to a political and economic boycott of Qatar imposed since June 2017 by OPEC’s de facto leader Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states.