Defence industry cooperation: Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, Indonesia may sign MoU

ANKARA: A memorandum of understanding on defence industry cooperation between Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Indonesia is expected to be signed on Wednesday (October 21).

According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, Defence Minister Yaar Güler will visit Qatar for the occasion. Anadolu, citing information obtained from officials, reported that the Turkish defence minister is scheduled to depart for Qatar on Tuesday afternoon.

The proposed memorandum concerns defence industry cooperation among the four countries; however, its detailed terms, specific projects and financial volume have not yet been disclosed.

The development comes as Qatar prepares to increase its domestic defence production capabilities.

Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said while addressing the Global Security Forum in Doha on Monday, 19 October, that a defence production centre would soon be announced in the country.

He said work was being carried out with a regional partner as well as the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

He said these efforts also included assessing the development of local defence production capabilities and investment opportunities in defence companies.

He also indicated new partnerships to strengthen capabilities to counter ballistic missiles, drones and cyberattacks, but provided no further details. These announcements were not presented as the final terms of the four-country memorandum of understanding.

Türkiye and Qatar have previously signed a memorandum of understanding on defence industry cooperation.

According to the Qatari Amiri Diwan, the document was concluded on 22 October 2025 in Doha between Qatar’s Ministry of Defence and Türkiye’s defence industry agency in the presence of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The ongoing Global Security Forum in Doha is focused on the future of alliances.

Qatar’s Government Communications Office said the three-day forum opened on 19 October and is being attended by senior officials and personalities from more than 100 countries. The forum is discussing collective security, emerging threats and prospects for international cooperation.