The recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Pakistan was another significant juncture in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. During this summit, both sides signed different MoUs and agreements, further bolstering their bilateral strategic and economic relations.
Historical Ties and Strategic Partnership
Being the two key strategic players in the Muslim world further strengthens their bond. Both countries are members of the OIC. During the Cold War era, their bilateral relations were further cemented, as both were US allies and part of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). However, this partnership ended when CENTO was dissolved in 1979. Nonetheless, their alliance with the United States remained unaffected even after the collapse of the CENTO. Pakistan and Turkey have always remained at the forefront to counter the rising challenge of Islamophobia around the world.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan holds a reputation for being the staunchest supporter of Muslim rights. Despite that, Turkey is one of the key trade partners of Israel. Although it was not under his rule when Istanbul recognized Israel, Erdoğan had been in office as the Prime Minister of the country since 2003 and president since 2014, and the country’s relations with the illegitimate state of Israel still persist even after the latter has committed a host of war crimes in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Furthermore, the Erdoğan government is believed to be supporting the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants, puppets of the Israeli and US government, in Syria. Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the interim President of Syria, visited Turkey on 4th Feb 2025, ushering speculations that the United States is controlling and assisting the HTS through Istanbul.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation and Economic Ties
The recent visit of the Turkish President to Pakistan transpired at a time when the latter was diplomatically isolated. The world is now witnessing global turmoil and the Muslim nations are facing violence and chaos, making it indispensable for Turkey and Pakistan to bolster their alliance and cooperation to foster regional economic prosperity, growth, and stability. This summit between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan underscores the commitment of the two countries to cement their ties for their citizens and the whole Muslim world.
Pakistani Prime Minister invited the Turkish President to preside over the 7th round of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC). This meeting provided the blueprint for augmenting bilateral cooperation across several domains. The HLSCC platform is considered the highest decision-making mechanism between Pakistan and Turkey. It also deepened the bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors during the previous sessions.
During the summit between President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and agreements were signed. The two sides pledged to increase bilateral cooperation in different fields, including air force electronic warfare, and defense production. The Secretariat of Defense Industries of Turkey and Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production also signed an MoU.
Another significant MoU was signed between Pakistan’s Naval Research and Development Institute and Turkey’s Aerospace Institute (TAI), Turkey’s state-owned enterprise. During the recent visit of the Turkish President, under the high-level Strategic Council, a new Joint Standing Committee on Defense, Intelligence, and Security was also established, further strengthening the bilateral partnership between the two countries.
Pakistan and Turkey also agreed to review the existing trade agreements and to enhance the volume of annual bilateral trade to $5 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2024. Pakistan also offered Turkish companies the opportunity to establish a special economic zone for industrial production. Both countries also agreed to revise the existing hydrocarbons’ pact. Turkey signed an MoU to support Pakistan’s energy transition, a significant step in the country’s efforts to reduce its dependence on imported fuel. Pakistan is a resource-rich country, with several important minerals, including precious stones, salt, and coal. These minerals can help the country to strengthen its economy. Therefore, it also signed a mining cooperation MoU with Turkey, which will attract significant foreign investment. President Erdoğan criticized Israel for its war crimes and genocide in Gaza during this visit. This summit between the leaders of the key players of the Muslim world holds immense significance for the two countries and the Middle East as well. A strengthened alliance between the two sides will provide several economic and geopolitical benefits to both sides.
Taut Bataut – is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics
