Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and Indonesia seal Badr defence industrial pact
Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia on Wednesday signed a multilateral pact to promote cooperation in defence production and capabilities, the Turkish defence ministry said. The Foreign Office has yet to comment on the signing of the defence pact. According to the Turkish ministry, the signing took place in Qatar, with ministers of the four countries attending the ceremony. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who was visible in pictures shared by the ministry, signed on behalf of Pakistan. Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman, and Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Defence Yusuf Jauhari were the other signatories. Haluk Görgün, who heads Turkiye’s Secretariat of Defence Industries, was also present on the occasion. Reuters quoted the Turkish ministry as saying that the pact, titled ‘Badr Memorandum of Understanding’, was aimed at defence cooperation and strengthening defensive capabilities. The ministry said the accord would also support military exercises and training, cooperation on research and development, and contribute to joint efforts to improve the countries’ respective defence industries. Meanwhile, Turkiye-based Anadolu Agency quoted the ministry as saying that the MoU would help develop solutions and industrial sectors aligned with advances in modern defence systems. Pakistan has strong brotherly and historic ties with the three countries, with intense diplomatic engagement seen in recent months with Qatar and Turkiye particularly. Pakistan and Turkiye, along with Saudi Arabia, are members of the Makkah Defence Alliance, under which they are to treat an attack against any of them as an attack against all. Qatar had welcomed that pact as cooperation aimed at regional security and stability. More to follow
Four nations have agreed to deepen their military and industrial ties under a new multilateral agreement signed in Qatar. The Badr Memorandum of Understanding brings together Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, and Indonesia to enhance their combined defensive capabilities and cooperate closely on military manufacturing.
According to statements released by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, the formal signing ceremony was attended by senior defence officials representing all four participating states. Pakistan was represented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, alongside Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman, and Indonesian Deputy Defence Minister Yusuf Jauhari. Haluk Gorgun, the head of Turkey's Secretariat of Defence Industries, also participated in the proceedings.
The Turkish defence ministry confirmed that the initiative holds significant economic weight, with an emphasis on mutual technical training, joint research and development, and combined military drills. Officials stated that the partnership seeks to combine the distinct manufacturing strengths of each participant to strengthen their domestic industrial bases and address the defence requirements of partner states.
Gorgun explained that the arrangement establishes a framework for long-term strategic collaboration focused on technology exchange and combined development initiatives. He noted that moving past standard equipment purchasing models is vital to cultivating local workforces and building domestic industrial capacity, expressing confidence that the pact will translate the diverse capabilities of the four governments into tangible manufacturing programmes.
The development follows months of stepped-up diplomacy among the signatory countries. Pakistan and Turkey already maintain a collective defence commitment alongside Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Defence Alliance, which Qatar had previously commended for fostering regional security. Islamabad and Ankara are additionally partners with Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Regional Four diplomatic coalition.
Bilateral engagements between the nations had laid the groundwork for wider cooperation in the lead-up to the accord. Pakistani officials recently held talks with Qatari leadership regarding internal security and expanded industrial partnerships. Islamabad has also held reciprocal defence consultations with Indonesian military leadership over recent months, focusing on training programmes and combined operational exercises.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official statement regarding the signing of the agreement at the time of reporting.
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VerifiedReported from Dawn (Pakistan).
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