Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are expected to sign a joint defence agreement on Friday, according to regional sources familiar with the matter, marking a significant step in security cooperation among three of the Muslim world’s most influential powers.
The agreement comes at a time of heightened instability in the Middle East, following escalating hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which have intensified security concerns across the Gulf region.
Although the full details of the agreement have not been made public, the pact is expected to strengthen defence collaboration between the three countries. A Turkish official confirmed that the agreement will be signed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are expected to attend the signing ceremony in Jeddah alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is also expected to be present.
The defence pact follows months of negotiations and reflects growing efforts by Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad to deepen strategic cooperation as regional security challenges continue to evolve.
The initiative also comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns over the security of Gulf states after recent military exchanges involving Iran.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, raising fears over global energy supplies and the movement of commercial goods.
Turkey has in recent months advocated the creation of a broader regional security framework aimed at promoting stability, dialogue and collective cooperation across the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan already maintain longstanding defence ties under an existing security arrangement, while Turkey has steadily expanded its military and defence partnerships across the Gulf in recent years. The proposed trilateral agreement is expected to further reinforce those strategic relationships.
Neither Pakistan nor Saudi Arabia had officially disclosed the specific commitments contained in the agreement at the time of publication, and the scope of mutual defence obligations under the new pact remains unclear.
