Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan to sign joint defence pact amid regional escalation

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a joint defence agreement on Friday in Jeddah, according to sources close to the Saudi military and government who spoke to AFP. The move comes amid a surge in wars and military tensions across the region, particularly the war between the United States and Iran, which has drawn in Gulf states and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

One anonymous source said the agreement had been under discussion for a long time but that recent regional developments had accelerated the process. A second source confirmed the signing would take place on Friday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Red Sea city. Sharif and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir arrived in the kingdom on Thursday for a visit running until Saturday, while Erdogan is expected on Friday.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said the visit takes place from August 6 to 8. Foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that, although the visit occurs against a backdrop of heightened Gulf tensions, it carries significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations.

Speculation about a potential strategic alliance among the three countries has persisted for months. Pakistan has sought to mediate efforts to end the US-Iran war, while Turkey has played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at resolving the Gaza war. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defence pact in 2025, which drew significant attention given that Pakistan is the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed state.