Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar, and Indonesia Sign MoU to Strengthen Defence Cooperation

October 21, 2026 at 8:43 PM
icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp

DOHA, Qatar: Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Indonesia signed the “Badr” Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday to enhance cooperation in defence production, research and development, and technical training, Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The signing ceremony in Doha was attended by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, and Indonesian Deputy Defence Minister for Logistics, Defence Industries and Technology Affairs Marshal Yusuf Juhari, and President of Turkiye’s Defence Industries Authority Haluk Görgün.

The multilateral MoU aims to promote cooperation in the field of defence manufacturing, enhance the four countries’ defence capabilities, and expand collaboration in technical defence training, research and development fields, Qatar’s Defence Ministry said.

The agreement also aims to support the development of advanced defence solutions and industries to meet evolving military needs.

This memorandum holds significant economic importance for the signatory countries, as it will leverage each country’s capabilities in defence manufacturing, achieving cooperation, integration, and the development of defence industry capacities to meet the needs of allied and friendly nations, Qatar’s defence ministry said.

Commitment to Regional Peace

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the country attached great importance to strengthening defence cooperation with trusted partners, adding that the memorandum reflected a shared commitment to regional peace and stability.

“We look forward to exploring opportunities for strengthening self-reliance, industrial collaboration, joint production and technology transfer,” Asif said

The Pakistani Defence Minister noted that the partnership would draw on the complementary strengths of the participating countries’ defence industries in accordance with relevant domestic and international laws and regulations.

He said the MoU also aimed to advance cooperation in joint research and development, training exchanges and the development of industrial capabilities.

“Through this partnership, we aim to advance cooperation across joint research and development, training exchanges and industrial capability building,” Asif stated.

Turkiye’s Defence Ministry said that the MoU was aimed at defence cooperation and strengthening defensive capabilities.

“The agreement holds substantial economic importance,” the Turkish Defence Ministry said, adding the accord sought to foster cooperation in military production, boost military capabilities, and help collaboration in technical military training, research and development.

“By leveraging the unique military production capabilities of each country, the initiative will facilitate cooperation and integration, enhance defence industrial capacities, and enable the fulfilment of the needs of allied and friendly nations,” it added.

Cooperation for Regional Security and Stability

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.

Islamabad and Doha have remained engaged as mediators in the US-Iran war. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Turkiye are part of the Regional Four (R4) Group along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which emerged in March and has met several times since then.

Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Qatari counterpart during his visit to Doha, where the two agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in internal security.

During his November 2025 visit to the Gulf state, President Asif Ali Zardari met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and offered to expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence production.

Last month, Indonesian naval chief Admiral Dr Muhammad Ali called on Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Rawalpindi.

The two sides “reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen cooperation, particularly in the domains of professional training, defence collaboration and joint exercises”, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp