Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact May Expand as Turkey Plans Entry

Turkey is reportedly preparing to join a defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that treats an attack on one member as an attack on all, expanding a bilateral agreement signed last year into a trilateral security arrangement. The original Pakistan-Saudi pact, formalized in 2025, includes a mutual defense clause similar to NATO's Article 5, committing both nations to consider aggression against one as aggression against both. Diplomatic and defense sources indicate that Ankara has expressed strong interest in becoming the third member, with discussions advancing at senior levels between the three capitals.

The proposed inclusion of Turkey would create a powerful Muslim-majority security bloc spanning South Asia, the Middle East, and West Asia, combining Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, Saudi Arabia's financial strength and regional influence, and Turkey's advanced military industry and NATO membership. Analysts view the grouping as a strategic counterweight to perceived threats from Iran, Israel, and external powers, while also serving to deepen military, intelligence, and defense-industrial cooperation among the three nations.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defense ties for decades, including joint military exercises, arms transfers, and Saudi financial support during Pakistan's economic challenges. The mutual defense clause was a formal upgrade of this longstanding relationship. Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has pursued an assertive foreign policy, strengthening ties with Pakistan through defense deals and with Saudi Arabia through recent reconciliation efforts after years of tension over regional issues, including Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood.

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If Turkey formally joins, the pact could reshape regional security dynamics, particularly in the Gulf, South Asia, and the broader Islamic world. It would also mark a significant realignment, bringing together three countries that have occasionally differed on issues such as Syria, Libya, and Kashmir, yet share common interests in countering Iranian influence and enhancing defense self-reliance. The exact timeline and final terms of Turkey's entry remain under discussion, with sources suggesting a formal announcement could come in the coming months.

The development underscores the evolving nature of alliances in the Muslim world, where traditional Western-led frameworks like NATO are increasingly complemented by independent regional groupings. While the pact is primarily defensive in nature, its expansion to include Turkey raises questions about potential implications for NATO, given Ankara's existing obligations under the alliance, and for broader Middle East stability amid ongoing tensions with Iran and other actors.

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