Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan set to sign trilateral defence pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a defence agreement on Friday, Turkish and Pakistani officials said, deepening cooperation among the three countries at a time of growing security concerns in the region.

The agreement is due to be signed during a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Officials said the three leaders are also expected to discuss ways to help defuse tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as expanding trade, economic ties and broader security cooperation.

A Turkish security official said the agreement would be signed during the leaders' meeting. In Pakistan, two officials familiar with the preparations said diplomats from the three countries were fine-tuning a draft covering defence cooperation and other areas that could be endorsed by the leaders. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the talks publicly.

There were no immediate details of the agreement, which would bring together oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan and Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and a rapidly growing defence industry. Turkey's Haberturk television said it is likely to allow joint military exercises and training, technology transfers and intelligence sharing. Other unconfirmed reports suggested the agreement could state that any aggression against one of the countries would be considered aggression against all.

Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defence partnerships. In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The expected agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.

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. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the visit, while taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, goes beyond the immediate crisis and is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and boosting coordination on regional and international issues.

Officials said the proposed pact would mark a fresh step in defence cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, while the three sides also look at wider regional, economic and security coordination.

With PTI Inputs

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a defence agreement on Friday, Turkish and Pakistani officials said, deepening cooperation among the three countries at a time of growing security concerns in the region.

The agreement is due to be signed during a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Officials said the three leaders are also expected to discuss ways to help defuse tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as expanding trade, economic ties and broader security cooperation.

A Turkish security official said the agreement would be signed during the leaders' meeting. In Pakistan, two officials familiar with the preparations said diplomats from the three countries were fine-tuning a draft covering defence cooperation and other areas that could be endorsed by the leaders. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the talks publicly.

There were no immediate details of the agreement, which would bring together oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan and Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and a rapidly growing defence industry. Turkey's Haberturk television said it is likely to allow joint military exercises and training, technology transfers and intelligence sharing. Other unconfirmed reports suggested the agreement could state that any aggression against one of the countries would be considered aggression against all.

Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defence partnerships. In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. The expected agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.

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. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the visit, while taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, goes beyond the immediate crisis and is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and boosting coordination on regional and international issues.

Officials said the proposed pact would mark a fresh step in defence cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, while the three sides also look at wider regional, economic and security coordination.

With PTI Inputs