Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Sign Joint Defence Pact Amid Regional Turmoil
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement on August 7 in Mecca. This move comes amid regional turmoil in the Middle East, with Gulf states under fire from Iran following attacks by the US and Israel.
The pact aims to strengthen ties between the three nations, which share concerns over Middle East chaos and the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran and assertive Israel.
Turkey has NATO's second-largest military, while Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's holiest sites and one of the world's top oil exporters. Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country.