Türkiye, Qatar, Indonesia, and Pakistan signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) named “Badr” in Doha on 21 October to enter into “strategic cooperation,” seeking joint defense manufacturing, technological development, research, and military-industry training.

Türkiye’s Defense Industry Presidency Chairman Haluk Gorgun, who was also present on the occasion, said: “Technology sharing, joint development and strengthening domestic production capabilities lie at the heart of sustainable defense industry. As Türkiye, we value partnerships that go beyond off-the-shelf procurement models, that foster the development of a nation’s own human capital and industrial infrastructure.”

Considering the MoU as the foundation of a “strategic cooperation,” Gorgun said in a statement, “it will help transform the respective capabilities of Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Türkiye into concrete projects.”

“We believe that the Badr memorandum of understanding will contribute to transforming the complementary capabilities of Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Türkiye into concrete projects,” he added.

Close on the heels of a similar Makkah Joint Defense Agreement that involved Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan, the Badr Pact now signals an emerging security architecture — one in which some top Muslim countries seek greater cooperation only to augment their traditional ties with Western allies.

The four countries’ defense ministries, along with Pakistan’s defense production authority and Turkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries, signed it.

The Turkish Defence Ministry issued a statement, saying the countries signed the Badr MoU in Doha to further deepen cooperation and develop partnerships.

“The agreement holds substantial economic importance,” it 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.

Türkiye, which has NATO’s second-largest army and a robust defence industry, has been helping Gulf nations, including Qatar, where it has a military base, bolster their defences amid the Iran war.

Representing Pakistan at the signing, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, later commented on the pact on his X account, saying “Through this partnership, we aim to advance cooperation across joint research and development, training exchanges and industrial capability building.”

Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman, and Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Defence Yusuf Jauhari were the other signatories.

The name Badr, Arabic for “full moon,” symbolizes how the four countries complement one another through the agreement.

On the pact naming ‘Badr’, Qatar News Agency said: It refers “to the full moon, to signify how the four nations complement one another through this agreement, given its immense importance in terms of both defence and the economy.”

“Other friendly nations may join the MoU, in accordance with criteria agreed upon by the four countries,” it said.