Pakistan Defense
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Date of Event:
Oct 23, 2026
Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia deepen defence ties amid regional tensions
Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a defence cooperation agreement to expand joint arms production, technology transfers and military manufacturing, as regional tensions and vulnerabilities in foreign arms supplies push countries to strengthen their own defence industries.
The four countries signed the ‘Badr’ memorandum of understanding in Doha on Wednesday, seeking to build a more integrated defence manufacturing network stretching from the Gulf to South and Southeast Asia, Al Jazeera reported.
The initiative comes amid the prolonged US-Israel war with Iran and growing regional security concerns. Analysts say recent conflicts have exposed the risks of relying heavily on foreign suppliers, prompting countries to diversify their defence partnerships without necessarily abandoning existing alliances.
Arda Mevlutoglu, a defence industry analyst and managing director of Mergen Analytical Strategies, said the agreement could have implications beyond its four signatories.
‘We may be witnessing the emergence of an interconnected network of defence and security arrangements extending from the Gulf to South and Southeast Asia, rather than a single formal alliance,’ he told Al Jazeera.
In a statement, Qatar’s Defence Ministry said the memorandum aimed to foster cooperation in defence manufacturing, enhance the countries’ defence capabilities, and promote collaboration in technical training, research and development.
The agreement is expected to combine the countries’ respective strengths. Turkey brings technological expertise, systems integration and an established defence industry, while Pakistan and Indonesia offer manufacturing capacity, skilled workers and sizeable domestic markets. Qatar, meanwhile, can provide investment and demand for defence equipment.
‘Together, these countries could establish integrated supply chains, allowing them to jointly develop, manufacture and sustain defence systems,’ Mevlutoglu said.
Such cooperation could help reduce production costs, create jobs and give participating countries greater control over the manufacture and maintenance of military equipment.
Albert Vidal, a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Pakistan and Indonesia were willing to buy Turkish weapons and manufacture some of them domestically. This could lower costs for Turkish companies and create employment in the two countries, while Qatar would contribute financial resources.
Turkey already maintains defence manufacturing ties with all three partners. Ankara and Doha signed a bilateral defence industry memorandum in October 2025, while Turkey and Pakistan have been cooperating on naval shipbuilding.
Under their existing naval project, two of four ships are to be built in Istanbul and the other two at Karachi Shipyard. Turkey and Indonesia are also jointly developing a tank.
Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the new agreement would bring existing defence export and joint production arrangements into a more structured network.
‘The rationale is to streamline these distinct defence export and joint production agreements under a more structured and resilient networked hub, rather than reinvent the wheel with each new defence agreement,’ she told Al Jazeera.
Analysts said the US-Israeli war with Iran, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reported shortages of US weapons had added urgency to regional efforts to strengthen domestic arms production and diversify supply chains.
‘Diversification is a major driver, particularly as recent conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities associated with dependence on foreign suppliers, technology restrictions and supply chain disruptions,’ Mevlutoglu said.
However, he cautioned against interpreting the agreement as a move away from Washington. Qatar was unlikely to abandon its strategic relationship with the United States, while Turkey sought greater technological independence within NATO rather than autonomy from the alliance, he said.
The Doha agreement also complements broader regional efforts to formalise security cooperation. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, establishing a mutual defence commitment. Ankara submitted the agreement to parliament for ratification on Wednesday.
Unlike the Mecca agreement, which focuses on collective deterrence and military cooperation, the Doha memorandum centres on defence industry collaboration.
‘While Mecca focuses on collective deterrence and military cooperation, Doha could provide the industrial and technological foundations for such partnerships,’ Mevlutoglu said.
Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a defence cooperation agreement to expand joint arms production, technology transfers and military manufacturing, as regional tensions and vulnerabilities in foreign arms supplies push countries to strengthen their own defence industries.
The four countries signed the ‘Badr’ memorandum of understanding in Doha on Wednesday, seeking to build a more integrated defence manufacturing network stretching from the Gulf to South and Southeast Asia, Al Jazeera reported.
The initiative comes amid the prolonged US-Israel war with Iran and growing regional security concerns. Analysts say recent conflicts have exposed the risks of relying heavily on foreign suppliers, prompting countries to diversify their defence partnerships without necessarily abandoning existing alliances.
Arda Mevlutoglu, a defence industry analyst and managing director of Mergen Analytical Strategies, said the agreement could have implications beyond its four signatories.
‘We may be witnessing the emergence of an interconnected network of defence and security arrangements extending from the Gulf to South and Southeast Asia, rather than a single formal alliance,’ he told Al Jazeera.
In a statement, Qatar’s Defence Ministry said the memorandum aimed to foster cooperation in defence manufacturing, enhance the countries’ defence capabilities, and promote collaboration in technical training, research and development.
The agreement is expected to combine the countries’ respective strengths. Turkey brings technological expertise, systems integration and an established defence industry, while Pakistan and Indonesia offer manufacturing capacity, skilled workers and sizeable domestic markets. Qatar, meanwhile, can provide investment and demand for defence equipment.
‘Together, these countries could establish integrated supply chains, allowing them to jointly develop, manufacture and sustain defence systems,’ Mevlutoglu said.
Such cooperation could help reduce production costs, create jobs and give participating countries greater control over the manufacture and maintenance of military equipment.
Albert Vidal, a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Pakistan and Indonesia were willing to buy Turkish weapons and manufacture some of them domestically. This could lower costs for Turkish companies and create employment in the two countries, while Qatar would contribute financial resources.
Turkey already maintains defence manufacturing ties with all three partners. Ankara and Doha signed a bilateral defence industry memorandum in October 2025, while Turkey and Pakistan have been cooperating on naval shipbuilding.
Under their existing naval project, two of four ships are to be built in Istanbul and the other two at Karachi Shipyard. Turkey and Indonesia are also jointly developing a tank.
Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the new agreement would bring existing defence export and joint production arrangements into a more structured network.
‘The rationale is to streamline these distinct defence export and joint production agreements under a more structured and resilient networked hub, rather than reinvent the wheel with each new defence agreement,’ she told Al Jazeera.
Analysts said the US-Israeli war with Iran, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reported shortages of US weapons had added urgency to regional efforts to strengthen domestic arms production and diversify supply chains.
‘Diversification is a major driver, particularly as recent conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities associated with dependence on foreign suppliers, technology restrictions and supply chain disruptions,’ Mevlutoglu said.
However, he cautioned against interpreting the agreement as a move away from Washington. Qatar was unlikely to abandon its strategic relationship with the United States, while Turkey sought greater technological independence within NATO rather than autonomy from the alliance, he said.
The Doha agreement also complements broader regional efforts to formalise security cooperation. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, establishing a mutual defence commitment. Ankara submitted the agreement to parliament for ratification on Wednesday.
Unlike the Mecca agreement, which focuses on collective deterrence and military cooperation, the Doha memorandum centres on defence industry collaboration.
‘While Mecca focuses on collective deterrence and military cooperation, Doha could provide the industrial and technological foundations for such partnerships,’ Mevlutoglu said.
