Regional Powerhouses Unite: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Sign Defense Pact

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defense agreement on Friday, marking a significant new trilateral framework in the region amid growing tensions following Israeli-US attacks on Iran.

The deal has been under negotiation since last year and is expected to cover all aspects of defense cooperation among the three countries. The agreement may include a mutual defense clause, but its final terms have yet to be confirmed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday, where he will be hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already arrived in Jeddah.

The trilateral pact would link three of the region's largest countries, each with unique advantages: oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and Turkey, which boosts NATO's second-largest army. Both Islamabad and Ankara are emerging as major weapons manufacturers and exporters.