Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia sign ‘Badr’ defense co-op accord

Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed a quadrilateral defense cooperation agreement in Doha on Wednesday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

The “Badr” accord is aimed at ⁠boosting defense cooperation and strengthening the four countries’ defensive capabilities. It will also support military exercises and training and cooperation on research and development (R&D) and contribute to joint efforts to improve their defense industries, the ministry said.

The deal follows the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement that Türkiye signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August, under which an ⁠armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Ankara says that partnership is meant to strengthen collective deterrence, enhance joint capabilities in the defense sector and safeguard security and stability in the region.

Türkiye, which has a robust defense industry, has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed willingness to help meet Riyadh’s military technology needs and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to ensure navigational safety in the Red Sea.

Wednesday’s memorandum builds on existing bilateral relationships and could create new areas of cooperation. It could also help bring together countries’ industrial capabilities in projects already underway.

Wednesday’s agreement builds on existing bilateral relationships and could create new areas of cooperation. It could also help bring together the countries’ industrial capabilities in projects already underway.

Areas of concrete cooperation include joint R&D projects, joint production of certain components of defense products, training of technical personnel, sharing of engineering experience, adapting jointly developed products to each side’s needs and marketing them internationally.

Existing ties

Cooperation between Türkiye and Qatar has recently turned toward joint investment and production models. Bayraktar TB2 armed drones, armored vehicles and assault boats have entered Qatar’s armed forces inventory.

Barzan Holding, owned by Qatar’s Defense Ministry, has signed several agreements with Turkish firms including Aselsan, STM and MKE. Through BARQ, a company set up in Qatar by Aselsan and Barzan, assembly, production and calibration of remote-controlled weapon systems (SARP) and electro-optical devices have begun in Qatar.

In Pakistan, a major example is the PN Milgem (Babur-class) corvette project, led by the Turkish contractor ASFAT. Of the four corvettes, the first two were built in Istanbul and the other two at Karachi Shipyard in Pakistan.

The project modernized the yard’s production infrastructure and passed shipbuilding and outfitting skills to the local workforce.

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler (2nd L), Haluk Görgün (L), head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Qatar Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani (C), Khawaja Muhammad Asif (2nd R), minister of defense of Pakistan, and Yusuf Jauhari, deputy minister of defense of Indonesia, attended the signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 21, 2026. (AA Photo)

With Indonesia, recent concrete steps include the sale of the Kaan fighter jet, the joint development of the Kaplan MT medium tank and an armored personnel carrier, and the supply and co-production of the Atmaca anti-ship missile.

Under an intergovernmental agreement between the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and Indonesia’s Defense Ministry, the Kaplan MT was co-designed by Türkiye’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT Pindad.

Prototypes and the first production tanks were delivered to Indonesian users, and production continues in Indonesia at PT Pindad under a technology transfer arrangement.

Türkiye’s defense exports

The agreement comes as Türkiye’s defense exports reach record levels.

According to figures from the Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters’ Association (SSI), Türkiye’s defense and aerospace sector exported about $54 billion between 2012 and 2026, including the first nine months of this year.

More than $30 billion of that was in 2023-2026, meaning the last four years account for over 55% of the total for the past 14 years.

Exports rose 48% in 2025 to a record of more than $10 billion, and exports over the last 12 months topped $11 billion for the first time.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says Türkiye raised its arms exports by 122% over the past five years, making it the world’s 11th-largest arms supplier. About 56% of Türkiye’s defense and aerospace exports go to NATO allies, the report said.

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