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Four Muslim-majority countries — Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia — have signed the “Badr Memorandum of Understanding” to strengthen defence cooperation, expand military production and develop strategic partnerships.
The agreement was signed in Doha, the Qatari capital, on Wednesday by representatives of the four countries’ defence ministries, according to Türkiye’s National Defence Ministry.
The agreement aims to promote collaboration in defence manufacturing, technical military training, research and development, and the enhancement of military capabilities.
It will bring together the participating countries’ respective strengths to develop their defence industries and support the production of advanced military equipment.
Under the initiative, the countries will seek to improve coordination, exchange technical expertise and develop joint projects in line with advances in modern defence systems.
The agreement is also expected to strengthen industrial integration and help the partners meet the defence needs of allied and friendly countries.
The agreement, named “Badr”, meaning “full moon”, is intended to deepen strategic ties and expand multilateral cooperation in support of regional security and stability.
Türkiye has a well-established defence industry and has developed close military and industrial ties with Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia. It maintains a military base in Qatar and has been assisting Gulf countries in strengthening their defence capabilities amid heightened regional tensions.
Haluk Görgün, head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries, said the agreement would provide a foundation for strategic cooperation in joint production and technological development.
He emphasised that technology sharing, joint development and stronger domestic production capabilities were essential to building sustainable defence industries. He also expressed hope that the agreement would turn the four countries’ complementary capabilities into concrete projects.
### Not a mutual defence pact
The Badr agreement primarily focuses on cooperation in defence production, technology, training and research. It should not be confused with a mutual defence treaty that automatically obliges members to respond militarily if one of them comes under attack.
In August, Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a separate mutual defence agreement under which an attack on one party would be treated as an attack on all, Reuters reported.
The Badr initiative is expected to broaden cooperation among the four countries, strengthen their defence industries and create opportunities for joint technological development and production.