Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Sign Joint Defence Deal Amid Regional Turmoil

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement in response to regional turmoil. The pact is expected to be signed on August 7, following nearly a year of negotiations.

The move comes as the Gulf states face security vulnerabilities exposed by the Iran war, which has disrupted oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah for the signing.

The agreement follows Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's January statement that Ankara favours a broader regional security platform to promote cooperation and stability. The pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan treats an attack on either as an attack on both, encompassing 'all military means'.