Turkey: Turkey is reportedly moving closer to joining a strategic defence agreement between Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan, under which any attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all, according to a Bloomberg report.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said negotiations are at an advanced stage and a formal agreement is highly likely. The discussions have been held under conditions of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
The existing Saudi Arabia–Pakistan pact, signed in September last year, includes a clause stating that “any aggression” against one signatory would be considered aggression against both. The provision closely mirrors NATO’s Article 5 — a notable parallel given that Turkey is a long-standing NATO member and fields the alliance’s second-largest military after the United States.
According to sources, Turkey’s inclusion in the pact is seen as a logical step amid increasing convergence of interests among Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad across South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa. Turkey is also believed to view the alliance as a way to strengthen deterrence at a time when doubts persist over the long-term reliability of US security commitments and uncertainty surrounds former US President Donald Trump’s stance on NATO.
If finalised, Turkey’s entry would signal a new phase in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, two countries that were once rivals for leadership of the Sunni Muslim world. After years of strained ties, both nations are now expanding economic and defence cooperation. Earlier this week, Turkey and Saudi Arabia held their first-ever naval meeting in Ankara, according to the Turkish defence ministry.
The two countries also share concerns over Iran’s regional influence, while favouring diplomatic engagement with Tehran over direct military confrontation. Both support the establishment of a stable, Sunni-led government in Syria and back Palestinian statehood.
Turkey and Pakistan already enjoy strong military ties. Ankara has been building corvette warships for Pakistan’s navy and has upgraded several of Islamabad’s F-16 fighter jets. Turkey is also sharing drone technology with both countries and has sought their participation in its Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet programme.
The Saudi Arabia–Pakistan agreement, formally known as the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement”, is being viewed as one of Pakistan’s most significant defence pacts in decades. Turkey’s potential entry could further reshape regional security dynamics across multiple theatres.
