Sunni Powers Unite in Regional Defence Pact Amid Turmoil

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement on Friday amid regional turmoil. The pact follows nearly a year of negotiations between the three countries, which have been exacerbated by the Iran-US conflict that has exposed Gulf states' security vulnerabilities and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The deal will be signed in Jeddah by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The agreement is seen as a strengthening of ties between major Sunni Muslim powers, with Turkey being a member of NATO and Saudi Arabia one of the world's top oil exporters.

A previous pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan treats an attack on either country as an attack on both, encompassing 'all military means'. The new agreement will further cement this cooperation in the region.