Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia to form political, military mechanisms under defense pact

Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia are set to formalize a new defense alliance by establishing dedicated political and military mechanisms, according to Turkiye's defense ministry. This move follows the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement last week, which aims to bolster regional security and defense industry collaboration among the three nations.

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Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries. Rather, we aspire for it to grow, and perhaps appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella.

The newly formed mechanisms will involve regular coordination among the defense ministers, foreign ministers, and military chiefs of the participating countries. Joint military exercises are also on the agenda, signaling a commitment to enhancing interoperability and readiness. The alliance seeks to deepen cooperation in the defense industry, potentially including joint production and technology sharing.

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Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries. Rather, we aspire for it to grow, and perhaps appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his ambition for the pact to expand beyond the initial three countries, expressing hope that "appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella." This vision suggests a broader regional security framework is envisioned.

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Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries. Rather, we aspire for it to grow, and perhaps appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated that Egypt could be the next country to join the agreement, citing only "a few technical issues" as obstacles. While Egypt has not officially commented, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Somalia have welcomed the pact. Notably, Iran has also responded positively, emphasizing its preference for "security mechanisms based on cooperation between regional countries." Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has affirmed that the pact is strictly defensive in nature, intended for no aggressive purposes.

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Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries. Rather, we aspire for it to grow, and perhaps appropriate conditions will emerge one day for all countries of the region to gather under its umbrella.