Turkey Nears Entry into Saudi-Pakistan Mutual Defence Pact, Signalling Strategic Realignment
Ankara is advancing talks to join the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence agreement, a move described as highly probable that could reshape regional security ties across the Middle East and South Asia
Turkey is in advanced discussions to join the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with sources close to the negotiations indicating that accession by Ankara is “very likely” as talks proceed.
The pact, signed in Riyadh in September two thousand twenty-five, commits both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to treat aggression against one as aggression against both, institutionalising a decades-long military partnership amid evolving regional dynamics.
If Turkey were to become a member, it could extend the security framework to span the Middle East and South Asia while signalling a broader cooperative strategy among influential Muslim-majority states.
The reported talks come at a time when Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its defence partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances, and Pakistan looks to solidify its strategic ties with key regional players.
Turkey’s potential inclusion would bring its sizeable armed forces, defence manufacturing capabilities and experience as NATO’s second-largest military into the alliance, complementing Saudi financial strength and Pakistan’s strategic deterrent capabilities.
Analysts describe the expanded alliance as responding to shifting global security perceptions, including doubts about the reliability of external security guarantees and the desire for greater regional self-reliance.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s mutual defence agreement fundamentally binds both states under a collective security umbrella.
The pact reflects deeper cooperation on defence and deterrence and has been interpreted by experts as an effort to hedge against geopolitical uncertainty in a volatile region.
Turkey’s longstanding military relations with both countries, including defence industry cooperation and joint training initiatives, provide a foundation for broader collaboration that could be formalised under the extended framework.
The discussions remain ongoing and could herald a significant shift in the strategic architecture of Muslim-majority nations if a formal accession is agreed.
The pact, signed in Riyadh in September two thousand twenty-five, commits both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to treat aggression against one as aggression against both, institutionalising a decades-long military partnership amid evolving regional dynamics.
If Turkey were to become a member, it could extend the security framework to span the Middle East and South Asia while signalling a broader cooperative strategy among influential Muslim-majority states.
The reported talks come at a time when Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its defence partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances, and Pakistan looks to solidify its strategic ties with key regional players.
Turkey’s potential inclusion would bring its sizeable armed forces, defence manufacturing capabilities and experience as NATO’s second-largest military into the alliance, complementing Saudi financial strength and Pakistan’s strategic deterrent capabilities.
Analysts describe the expanded alliance as responding to shifting global security perceptions, including doubts about the reliability of external security guarantees and the desire for greater regional self-reliance.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s mutual defence agreement fundamentally binds both states under a collective security umbrella.
The pact reflects deeper cooperation on defence and deterrence and has been interpreted by experts as an effort to hedge against geopolitical uncertainty in a volatile region.
Turkey’s longstanding military relations with both countries, including defence industry cooperation and joint training initiatives, provide a foundation for broader collaboration that could be formalised under the extended framework.
The discussions remain ongoing and could herald a significant shift in the strategic architecture of Muslim-majority nations if a formal accession is agreed.
