Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia have signed a defence cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening military capabilities, expanding defence production and enhancing collaboration in military technology and training.
The Foreign Office has yet to issue an official statement on the agreement.
According to Türkiye’s Defence Ministry, the signing ceremony was held in Qatar and attended by defence officials from all four countries. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif signed the agreement on behalf of Islamabad.
The agreement, titled the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), seeks to promote defence cooperation and strengthen the defensive capabilities of the participating countries.
The Turkish ministry said the pact also carries significant economic potential, with a focus on military production, technical training, research and development, and the enhancement of military capabilities.
It added that the initiative would utilise the countries’ respective defence production strengths to encourage industrial integration, expand domestic defence manufacturing and help meet the requirements of allied and friendly nations.
The other signatories included Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman, and Indonesia’s Deputy Defence Minister Yusuf Jauhari. Haluk Görgün, head of Türkiye’s Secretariat of Defence Industries, also attended the ceremony.
Görgün described the agreement as a foundation for strategic cooperation in joint production and technological development.
He said technology sharing, joint development and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities were essential to building a sustainable defence industry. He added that Türkiye valued partnerships that extended beyond the procurement of ready-made military equipment and supported the development of local expertise and industrial infrastructure.
Görgün expressed confidence that the Badr MoU would help translate the complementary capabilities of Pakistan, Qatar, Indonesia and Türkiye into practical joint projects.
Qatar News Agency reported that the agreement was named “Badr”, referring to the full moon. The name symbolises how the four countries complement one another through their cooperation in defence and economic affairs.
The agency added that other friendly countries could join the agreement, subject to criteria agreed upon by the four signatories.
Pakistan maintains longstanding diplomatic and defence relations with Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia, with engagement among the countries intensifying in recent months.
Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are also members of the Makkah Defence Alliance, under which an attack against one member is to be treated as an attack against all. Qatar has welcomed the arrangement, describing it as an initiative aimed at promoting regional security and stability.
Pakistan and Qatar have also remained engaged in diplomatic efforts concerning the US-Iran conflict, while Pakistan and Türkiye are part of the Regional Four (R4) grouping alongside Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The group emerged in March and has held several meetings since its formation.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Qatari counterpart in Doha, where both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in internal security.
During his visit to Qatar in November 2025, President Asif Ali Zardari met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and proposed expanding bilateral cooperation in defence production.
Pakistan has also continued to strengthen defence ties with Indonesia. Last month, Indonesian Naval Chief Admiral Dr Muhammad Ali met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi.
According to Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in professional training, defence collaboration and joint military exercises. The Indonesian naval chief also met President Zardari.
In January, Indonesian Defence Minister retired Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin met Field Marshal Munir and conveyed Jakarta’s interest in further expanding defence relations with Pakistan.
The Badr agreement marks another step in efforts by the four countries to strengthen defence partnerships, expand military-industrial cooperation and develop joint technological capabilities.
