Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia Agree to Expand Defense Cooperation
Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia have signed a defense cooperation agreement covering military production, technical training, and research and development, Reuters reported.
Signed in Doha, the Badr Memorandum of Understanding aims to expand cooperation among the four countries’ defense industries and strengthen their military capabilities.
The agreement would link the four nations’ defense manufacturing capabilities to meet their military needs and supply equipment to other partner nations.
Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkey’s Defense Industry Presidency, said technology sharing, joint development, and local production would be central to the cooperation.
Expanding Defense Partnerships
The agreement follows an August mutual defense pact between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia that treats an attack on any member as an attack on all three.
Houthi strikes on the kingdom have tested that commitment, but the pact has yet to produce substantial additional military support, Reuters reported.
Turkey is still seeking parliamentary ratification and has ruled out offensive operations, while Pakistan has not reinforced its existing presence in Saudi Arabia.
According to Reuters, Ankara has also been helping Gulf countries strengthen their defenses amid the war with Iran.
Turkey maintains a military base in Qatar and has established defense industry ties with Indonesia, which signed a contract to purchase 48 Turkish KAAN fighter jets.
In May, Baykar signed its first export agreement for the Bayraktar Kizilelma combat drone with Indonesia’s Republikorp.
The deal covers 12 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2028, options for 48 more, and plans for production and maintenance facilities in Indonesia.
Earlier this year, Turkey’s TAIS Shipyards signed a $1-billion agreement with Qatar’s Barzan Holding to build two Istanbul-class frigates for the Indonesian Navy.
