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Growing Defense Cooperation Between Türkiye & Pakistan Enhances their Strategic Influence in their Respective Regions

Türkiye and Pakistan share a longstanding and robust defense relationship that has deepened over decades. Since its independence, Pakistan has been enjoying very friendly and warm bilateral relations with Türkiye in all fields especially defense. Military cooperation between these two brotherly countries, which started soon after Pakistan’s independence, has been flourishing ever since, resulting in closer cooperation and understanding between the Armed Forces of the two countries.

Date: Issue 137 - February 2025

Over the years, the defense cooperation between these two brotherly countries has deepened, spanning various dimensions such as military training, joint exercises, technology transfers, and co-production of defense equipment. The evolving defense cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan is also driven by shared challenges and strategic interests. Both Türkiye and Pakistan have encountered arms embargoes and restrictions from Western suppliers, such as the US and Europe, for various reasons. This has prompted the two nations to strengthen their strategic ties and enhance their indigenous production capabilities to minimize reliance on external suppliers. Through joint ventures in defense technology, co-production of military equipment, and collaborative training and exercises, Türkiye and Pakistan are committed to supporting each other in achieving self-sufficiency in arms manufacturing. Considering Pakistan as an important marketplace for its indigenous, NATO standard high-tech defense and aerospace products, Türkiye has also fostered a strong partnership with Pakistan in the defense and aerospace sector especially during last two decades. 

Political and military leadership on both sides is also focusing on enhancing defense cooperation between these two brotherly countries. High-level political defense visits and agreements underscore the commitment to deepen ties. During the visits of Turkish and Pakistani high-ranking political and military officials that took place regularly, discussions were held about the possibilities of local production, co-production, and transfer of technology for defense-related products according to the needs of the two countries.