Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Set to Sign Defense Pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a defense agreement on Friday, a move that would formalize deeper security cooperation among three major regional powers at a time of heightened instability, according to Turkish and Pakistani officials.

The pact is set to be finalized during a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a Turkish security official said. Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday for a three-day visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

In Islamabad, two officials familiar with the preparations said diplomats from the three countries were finalizing a draft agreement covering defense cooperation and other areas, which the leaders could endorse. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly.

Details of the agreement have not been released. Turkish broadcaster Haberturk reported that it is likely to include provisions for joint military exercises and training, technology transfers and intelligence sharing. Other unconfirmed reports suggested the pact could state that an attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all.

The agreement brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and Turkey, which fields NATO's second-largest army and has a rapidly expanding defense industry. Saudi Arabia has been seeking to diversify its defense partnerships after attacks on its critical infrastructure and oil facilities linked to the war in Iran.

In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact defining any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The new trilateral agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the wars in Iran and Lebanon.

Beyond security, the leaders are expected to discuss ways to ease tensions between the United States and Iran, and to explore expanding trade and economic ties. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Sharif's visit, while occurring against the backdrop of heightened Gulf tensions, is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and boosting coordination on regional and international issues.