Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia sign defence deal amid US-Iran tensions

Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia have just inked a deal to tighten their defence industry bonds. This move signals a wider push by regional nations to broaden their security networks while the US war with Iran drags on. The four countries signed the memorandum in Doha on Wednesday. They plan to build on current military projects through joint production, technology transfers and integrated supply chains.

Experts warn that conflicts and uncertainty are forcing these efforts forward faster than before. The failure of Washington and Tehran to reach a peace deal has pushed neighbors to look beyond what analysts call an overreliance on American security guarantees. That said, officials insist this new cooperation does not mean ditching long-standing alliances. Instead, the goal is greater control over their own safety while keeping old partnerships strong.

Arda Mevlutoglu, a defence industry analyst and managing director of Mergen Analytical Strategies, told Al Jazeera that the ripple effects could stretch far beyond these four players. "We may be witnessing the emergence of an interconnected network of defence and security arrangements extending from the Gulf to South and Southeast Asia, rather than a single formal alliance," he said.

The Qatari Defence Ministry released a statement outlining their goals for this so-called "Badr" Memorandum. They aim to foster cooperation in defence manufacturing and enhance capabilities across all four nations. The plan also promotes collaboration in technical training, research and development to create solutions worthy of modern defence evolution. Under the agreement, each country brings its own resources or skills to the table. Turkiye contributes technological expertise, systems integration and a mature defence industry. Pakistan and Indonesia offer manufacturing capacity, skilled workforces and sizeable domestic markets. Qatar provides investment potential and demand.

Together these nations could establish integrated supply chains allowing them to jointly develop, manufacture and sustain defence systems. Such arrangements give buyers a larger role in producing and supporting their own equipment while providing manufacturers with longer-term orders and investment. Albert Vidal, a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Pakistan and Indonesia were both willing to purchase Turkish weapons and locate part of their production at home. This could bring down costs for Turkish companies and bring jobs to Pakistan and Indonesia, he said. Meanwhile Qatar brings financial depth.

Turkiye already has military manufacturing ties with each of these three countries separately as its defence sector ranks among the most advanced in the world. For instance Qatar and Turkiye signed a bilateral defence industry memorandum back in October 2025. But Vidal says this new agreement bringing all four nations together points to a strategic calculation alongside an industrial one. Closer relationships could give more countries a stake in each other's security as global tensions rise.

He highlighted Qatar's long-standing investment in Turkey's defense sector over more than ten years. He also noted Ankara sent troops to Doha during the 2017 diplomatic crisis. This history matters now.

Pakistan already runs a naval manufacturing project with Turkiye that proves weapon purchases can boost local industry. Two of four announced ships will be built in Istanbul, while the other two go to Karachi Shipyard. Indonesia and Turkiye are currently constructing a tank together as well.

"The rationale is to streamline these distinct defence export and joint production agreements under a more structured and resilient networked hub," Burcu Ozcelik told Al Jazeera. She works as a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Rather than reinvent the wheel with each new defence agreement."

Could this signal less reliance on Washington? Recent conflicts have changed that calculus for many observers. The US-Israeli war with Iran and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have spiked regional security worries. Reports of US weapons shortages add urgency to strengthening old partners and building domestic arms capacity.

"Diversification is a major driver," Mevlutoglu said. "Particularly as recent conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities associated with dependence on foreign suppliers, technology restrictions and supply chain disruptions." He warned against reading too much into the shift. Qatar will likely keep its strategic relationship with Washington intact. Turkiye wants greater technological independence within NATO but not autonomy from it.

Bader Mousa Al-Saif sees a bigger picture emerging here. He is an associate fellow with Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme and an assistant professor at Kuwait University. The initiative shows Gulf countries increasingly looking toward the Global South and fellow Muslim nations for support. It also complements another effort to formalize military cooperation across the region. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. That pact establishes a mutual defense commitment. Ankara submitted the deal to parliament for ratification on Wednesday. Deploying Turkish troops abroad would still need separate parliamentary approval though.

The Doha memorandum focuses on industrial cooperation rather than a mutual defense pledge. But Mevlutoglu sees a clear link between the two initiatives. "While Mecca focuses on collective deterrence and military cooperation, Doha could provide the industrial and technological foundations for such partnerships," he said.