Qatarinfo-icon said on Thursday it had signed a defence agreement with Russiainfo-icon, the latest in a series of such steps by the emirate since the Gulf diplomatic crisis erupted in June.

The announcement followed what Moscowinfo-icon said was the first trip ever undertaken by a Russian defence minister to the Gulf state.

Saudi Arabiainfo-icon, Bahraininfo-icon, the United Arab Emiratesinfo-icon and Egyptinfo-icon are boycotting Qatar, accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival Iraninfo-icon - charges that Dohainfo-icon denies.

The defence agreement was announced after Moscow's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah in Doha on Wednesday.

"The two ministers signed (a) military-technical cooperation agreement during the meeting," a statement from Qatar's defence ministry said.

It added that a "memorandum of understanding" was also signed relating to air defence and military supplies.

No further details were given.

In the almost 150-days of the Gulf crisis, Qatar has announced a $12 billion (10bn euros) deal to buy F-15 jets from the USinfo-icon, a five billion euro deal with Italyinfo-icon for seven navy vessels and an agreement to buy 24 Typhoon fighter jets from Britaininfo-icon.