Turkey and Pakistan took a new step in their strategic partnership by discussing enhanced cooperation in the fields of defense and energy in Islamabad on Wednesday. This was announced by Ankara following an official visit by Turkish Foreign and Defense Ministers Hakan Fidan and Yasar Guler to the Pakistani capital.
This high-level visit reflects the close ties between the two countries, traditionally allies on the international stage. It comes amid a tense geopolitical context, following Turkey's support for Pakistan during its recent military conflict with India last May—a stance that angered New Delhi.
During their visit, Fidan and Guler met with several key officials, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Air Force Chief of Staff Field Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. According to a statement from the Turkish Defense Ministry, the discussions focused on regional security and opportunities for collaboration in the defense industry, particularly in the areas of advanced military training and aviation technology.
Minister Guler highlighted the growing importance of joint projects, particularly in the aviation and drone sectors—a field in which Turkey has emerged as a major player in recent years. For his part, Field Marshal Sidhu expressed Pakistan's interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in research and technological development.
On the energy front, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a press conference in Islamabad that the two countries were exploring new opportunities for cooperation in mining, hydrocarbons, and strategic resources such as rare earths. This collaboration would build on an agreement reached last April to jointly explore for oil and gas off the Pakistani coast.
At the same time, these diplomatic rapprochements are not without consequences. Relations between Ankara and New Delhi have cooled since Turkey's open support for Pakistan. India has responded with economic retaliation: boycotts of Turkish products by some traders, withdrawal of business licenses, and revocation of the operating license of Turkish airport services provider Celebi for reasons cited as "national security."
As Turkey seeks to diversify its military and energy partnerships in the region, this strategic rapprochement with Pakistan could redraw certain balances within South Asia and the Middle East, where regional rivalries remain particularly intense.
