Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and Indonesia sign ‘Badr’ defense pact

Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and Indonesia signed a multilateral defense pact in Qatar on Wednesday to strengthen their military capabilities and expand collaboration in defense production, Turkey's Defense Ministry said. Pakistan's Foreign Office had yet to comment on the signing.

What is the Badr Memorandum of Understanding?

The Badr Memorandum of Understanding is the title of the agreement, Reuters quoted the Turkish ministry as saying. It was intended to promote defense cooperation and strengthen the four countries' defensive capabilities. The ministry said it would also support joint military exercises and training, research and development, and improvements to the participants' defense industries.

Who signed the defense pact in Qatar?

Representatives of the four countries signed the agreement in Qatar. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif signed on behalf of Islamabad, according to photographs shared by the Turkish ministry.

The other signatories were Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman, and Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister Yusuf Jauhari. Haluk Görgün, head of Turkey's Secretariat of Defense Industries, also attended the ceremony.

How will the agreement affect defense industries?

The partners are seeking to deepen cooperation on military training, exercises, research and development, and their respective defense industries. Turkey-based Anadolu Agency quoted the ministry as saying the agreement would help develop solutions and industrial sectors aligned with advances in modern defense systems.