Middle Eastern Powers Unite Amid Regional Turmoil: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Sign Defence Pact

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, amidst growing concerns over regional turmoil. The pact aims to address shared security concerns in the Middle East, where Gulf states have come under fire from Iran after being attacked by the US and Israel.

The agreement follows nearly a year of negotiations between the three countries, with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stating Ankara favoured a broader regional security platform to promote cooperation and stability. Pakistan has provided training and technical assistance to Saudi forces for decades, while Turkey and Pakistan have exchanged warships and training aircraft.

The pact also builds on existing defence ties between the three countries, with Saudi Arabia's government confirming that it treats an attack on either country as an attack on both. The agreement will add symbolic heft to a pact that addresses regional security vulnerabilities and disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.