On 7 August 2026, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a Joint\nDefence Agreement in Makkah (the Makkah Pact). The agreement carries\nsignificance beyond establishing a framework for strengthening military\nrelations among the three countries. The pact is important chiefly\nbecause it demonstrates the emergence of strategic linkages between West\nAsia and South Asia, as well as efforts by countries in the region to\nfurther integrate and coordinate their defence capabilities.<\/p>\n
In this context, Turkey\u2019s position holds particular significance. The\ncapabilities Turkey has developed in its defence industry have become\none of the factors enriching its foreign and security policy\ninstruments. The transformation of Turkey\u2019s defence industry has\nexpanded the room for manoeuvre available to Ankara\u2019s foreign policy.\nHowever, these capabilities do not mean Turkey has been freed from all\nstrategic dependencies.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the significance of the Makkah Pact for Turkey should not\nbe assessed by its potential to achieve \u2018full autonomy\u2019, but rather by\nthe extent to which the pact can diversify and expand the strategic\noptions Turkey already possesses. In other words, the key question is\nnot whether this pact can eliminate dependency, but whether it can\nenhance Turkey\u2019s ability to manage and diversify the various\ndependencies that remain.<\/p>\n
One of the most striking characteristics of the Makkah Pact is the\ndiffering capabilities of the three participating countries. Saudi\nArabia has advantages in terms of substantial financial resources and\ninvestment; Pakistan possesses extensive military capabilities and\nstrategic deterrence; while Turkey has a defence industry, operational\nexperience, and military standards connected to NATO. These differences\ncan become complementary strengths if successfully integrated into a\nmechanism for building strategic capabilities jointly.<\/p>\n
In recent years, the advancement of Turkey\u2019s defence industry has\nsignificantly altered the country\u2019s role in the regional security\nlandscape. A number of academic and policy studies show that the\nexpansion of Turkey\u2019s defence industrial capabilities has enriched the\ninstruments available for its foreign policy.<\/p>\n
This transformation is not limited to increased production capacity.\nThe influence of the defence industry on foreign policy also relates to\nTurkey\u2019s ability to deploy military force in various regions, export\ndefence products, and expand security partnerships that do not rely\nsolely on the provision of platforms or defence equipment.<\/p>\n
Here an important issue for Turkey emerges. Defence industry progress\ndoes contribute to the diversification of Ankara\u2019s foreign policy\ninstruments. However, the concept of strategic autonomy does not mean\nthe ability to \u2018produce everything independently\u2019. Strategic autonomy is\nmore accurately understood not as the elimination of all dependencies,\nbut as the ability to manage critical dependencies effectively.<\/p>\n
These developments show that Turkey possesses significant\ncapabilities in the defence industry, while also revealing structural\nlimitations in pursuing a fully independent defence industrial base,\nespecially when considering the enormous economic and technological\ncosts.<\/p>\n
This assessment has two important implications for the Makkah Pact.\nOn one hand, Turkey can make a substantial contribution in defence\ntechnology and operational capability. On the other hand, the pact can\nopen opportunities for joint financing, collaborative research and\ndevelopment (R&D), and co-production in areas where independent\ntechnological development would impose excessively high costs on\nTurkey.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Turkey\u2019s interest should not stop at making the Makkah\nPact a new market for its defence industry products. More importantly,\nthe pact should be transformed into a platform for joint capability\ndevelopment in specific areas.<\/p>\n
This distinction is important. Market-based relations primarily serve\nto expand defence exports. By contrast, capability-based partnerships\nencompass joint development, technology sharing, joint financing,\ninteroperability, and the possibility of co-production.<\/p>\n
Within this framework, air and missile defence, unmanned systems,\nelectronic warfare, cyber security, satellite-based intelligence, and\ncommand and control systems can become potential areas of cooperation.\nHowever, genuine integration in these areas also requires harmonisation\nof technical standards, data security arrangements, export control\nregimes, and rules concerning intellectual property rights.<\/p>\n
To assess the significance of the Makkah Pact for Turkey, the concept\nof strategic autonomy needs to be distinguished from a narrow\nunderstanding of military self-sufficiency. Turkey\u2019s pursuit of\nstrategic autonomy is not a new phenomenon. However, in recent years,\nthe concept has become increasingly prominent in Ankara\u2019s foreign and\nsecurity policy discourse.<\/p>\n
In this context, strategic autonomy is increasingly understood as a\nframework for expanding the options available to Turkish\ndecision-makers, rather than as a synonym for self-sufficiency. From\nthis perspective, strategic autonomy should not be understood solely as\na step to distance Turkey from its existing alliances.<\/p>\n
On the contrary, the concept needs to be examined by considering\nsimultaneously structural orientation, political motivation, and\neconomic foundations. Such an approach also demands attention to the\nvarious geopolitical and economic constraints that shape as well as\nlimit Turkey\u2019s efforts to pursue strategic autonomy.<\/p>\n
Increased strategic autonomy does not mean Turkey is withdrawing from\nthe international system. The concept refers more to strengthening the\nstate\u2019s capacity to act in accordance with its interests.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-makkah-pact-and-turkeys-strategic-autonomy-1787111526", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }