Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan's Defense Chiefs Meet in Istanbul to Boost Cooperation and Technology Transfer
In a recent development, the tripartite committee consisting of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan held its third meeting in Istanbul to explore ways to strengthen defense cooperation among the three nations.
The high-level delegation included Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Defense Talal bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi, Turkish Deputy Minister of National Defense Bilal Durdali, and Lt. Gen Mohammed Owais from Pakistan.
According to a report released by the Saudi Defense Ministry on Saturday, the primary agenda of the meeting was to discuss joint defense cooperation, technology transfer, and localization, and the advancement of scientific research in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030.
The Saudi-Turkish bilateral defense cooperation committee also convened in Istanbul for a separate meeting during the same period.
The defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkey has been on the rise in recent years, with both countries sharing common interests in regional security and stability.
The tripartite committee's meetings aim to build on this existing relationship and expand it to include Pakistan, further enhancing the defense capabilities of the three nations.
The discussions during the meeting focused on potential areas of collaboration in defense, with a particular emphasis on technology transfer and localization.
This would enable the countries to reduce their dependence on foreign defense equipment and promote self-sufficiency in defense production.
Moreover, the development of scientific research in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030 was also a significant topic of discussion.
Saudi Vision 2030 is a long-term plan to transform Saudi Arabia into a knowledge-based economy, and defense research and development aligns with this vision.
The meetings between the defense officials of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan mark an important step towards deepening defense cooperation among the three countries and strengthening their strategic partnership.
The outcomes of these meetings are expected to lead to concrete actions and collaborations in the defense sector, contributing to regional security and stability.