Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan to Sign Joint Defense Accord

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday to sign a joint defense agreement alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The trilateral accord, reported by Reuters, marks a significant alignment among three major regional powers amid escalating security challenges and ongoing instability linked to the Iran war.

Trilateral Security Summit

Erdoğan’s day-long visit to Saudi Arabia includes a three-way summit with Crown Prince Mohammed and Prime Minister Sharif, according to Turkish presidential communications chief Burhanettin Duran.

Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day official visit accompanied by Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The talks will center on regional security, maritime threats, defense cooperation, and broader strategy surrounding the Iran war.

Two regional sources with direct knowledge confirmed that the joint defense agreement will be signed on Friday during the gatherings.

Expanding Defense Ties

The signing follows a broader push by Ankara to deepen military and economic links across the region. Bilateral trade between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia reached $8.5 billion by the end of 2025, driven heavily by expanding defense sales.

Ankara’s military exports to Riyadh include a major 2023 drone procurement deal with Turkish manufacturer Baykar, followed by a 2024 agreement covering UAV co-production, technology transfer, and personnel training.

In February, both nations finalized an agreement for joint production of Türkiye’s Gokbey utility helicopter, while discussions continue regarding potential Saudi involvement in Türkiye's KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet program.

Regional Coordination

The diplomatic push in Riyadh comes a week after Saudi Arabia unveiled a multinational maritime coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden against Houthi threats.

Türkiye and Pakistan both formally backed the initiative, with Ankara condemning Houthi blockade threats against Saudi territory.

The meeting also builds upon the "R-4" regional alignment involving Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, which met recently in Amman to coordinate responses to the Iran war and regional instability.

For Ankara, tighter coordination with Riyadh and Islamabad strengthens its strategic leverage in the Middle East.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored Ankara's geopolitical stance during a press conference in Ankara on Thursday, describing Israel as among the "first and foremost actors undermining regional stability and pursuing expansionist ambitions."