Turkey began negotiations to join the defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The American news agency Bloomberg, citing its sources, reported that the negotiations are still in an early stage, and that a possible agreement between the three countries has the potential to change the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond. Meanwhile, some Turkish mass media, citing the international press, note that negotiations on the trilateral agreement are nearly complete and that the process will become official in the first quarter of 2026.

Ankara has neither confirmed nor denied this information. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense declined to comment on the media’s inquiry. Similarly, the relevant authorities in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia didn’t respond to the publications in the international press.  

It should be recalled that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a defense agreement in September 2025, based on which “any attack” on one of the parties would be considered an attack on the other. The agreement also aims to develop defense cooperation between the two countries and enhance their joint deterrence against any aggression. This alliance is interpreted in the international press as an “Islamic bomb” or  “nuclear umbrella” provided to Saudi Arabia by Pakistan. 

The abovementioned sources explain Turkey’s possible participation in the agreement as follows: “The expansion of the alliance may be justified, given that Turkey’s interests in South Asia, the Middle East, and even Africa increasingly coincide with those of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. At a time when US President Donald Trump’s stance on NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is being questioned, Turkey views the trilateral alliance as a way to both meet its security needs and enhance differences.” 

In a developing multipolar environment, countries are increasingly trying to protect themselves by diversifying their military partnerships. Israel’s growing dominance in the region and its multi-vectoral policies and actions are accelerating the formation of various centers of consolidation or new security architectures among regional countries. In this context, the idea of forming a unified security system in the Islamic world gains even greater strength and becomes more realistic and practical.  

Based on this logic, the possible cooperation format between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey is seen not only as a platform for defense cooperation but also as a tool for influencing the regional balance of power. 

The establishment of an alliance could evolve into a security cooperation mechanism within Sunni countries, aimed at both neutralizing external threats and addressing instability. However, the expansion of this alliance with other Sunni countries remains largely limited to statements of intent and limited cooperation, while differences in perceptions of the common threat and competition for leadership remain real obstacles.  

According to Turkish analyst and strategist Nihat Ali Özcan, this possible alliance would mean the unification of three different power components with a “multiplier effect.” Özcan believes that Saudi Arabia is the financial engine of the alliance due to its immense financial power and energy resources. Pakistan, as the only nuclear power in the Islamic world, with its ballistic  missile capacity and vast manpower, forms the “core of deterrence.”

According to the Turkish analyst, Turkey, with its experience gained within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), “proven military expertise” in the field, especially its rising defense industry with projects like strike drones, domestically produced KAAN fighter jet and ALTAY tank, assumes “technological leadership”. 

Turkey-Pakistan relations

Turkey-Pakistan relations have been shaped by a “historical friendship” and, over the years, have evolved into a multifaceted strategic partnership. Both countries cooperate closely in the political, economic, defense, and cultural spheres, providing mutual support at bilateral, regional and international forums (Trilateral relations between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan play a special role in regional cooperation).  

The sides attach special importance to military cooperation, joint military exercises, and the defense industry: they implement joint projects, including the MILGEM (National ship) military-naval project, which contributes to deepening military cooperation. At the same time, the sides are taking steps to expand trade and economic ties, aiming to increase bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion.

Turkey and Pakistan often take a unified stance on important geopolitical issues, emphasizing their shared strategic interests. In case of forming a trilateral defense alliance, Turkish-Pakistani relations will become more institutionalized and profound.

Turkey-Saudi Arabia relations

Turkey and Saudi Arabia began to restore their relations in 2021. Today, the intensification of political contacts, the development of economic ties, and investment cooperation are the priorities on the bilateral relations’ agenda.  

Relations between the two countries reached the level of strategic partnership as early as 2024. Mutual visits of high-level officials and the intensification of political dialogue reinforce this process.  

Since 2016, Turkey has conducted 4 joint military exercises with Saudi Arabia. Turkey considers Saudi Arabia an important financial and trading partner. Ankara is interested in both Saudi investments and expanding exports of its products, including defense products. 

ASELSAN, one of Turkey’s largest defense companies and Saudi Arabia’s TAQNIA DST established a joint venture SADEC, in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and the Turkish company Baykar in 2023. 

Despite the existing disagreements between the two countries, current geopolitical conditions allow such cooperation in defense.   

Why does Turkey want to be part of this pact? 

First and foremost, Turkey tries to strengthen its position in the Middle East and South Asia by presenting itself as a key military and political actor in the Sunni world. This trilateral format could open new opportunities for Ankara to engage in regional processes and assume mediating leadership roles. 

Due to problems within NATO and its relations with the United States, Turkey seeks to diversify its military and political partnerships, thereby relying less on Western security systems. Ankara’s active efforts to promote the ideology of “neo-Ottomanism” are clear evidence of this. The formation of an Islamic NATO, based on religious and political affinities, is part of that ideology. It should be noted that the Islamic NATO format is one of the tools Ankara uses to expand its influence in Islamic countries. 

Cooperation with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on a new platform will enable Turkey to expand its arms export markets. This, in turn, will contribute to the economic stabilization of Turkish defense companies, the growth of production capacity, and technological development. For Turkey, already in an economic crisis, such cooperation could provide additional financial flows, export growth, and some economic revival through the defense industry.   

Given the defense cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is primarily aimed at containing Iran’s military and political influence, Turkey, which has competitive relations with Tehran in Syria, Iraq  and the Caucasus, is interested in becoming part of this counterweight. Similarly, Israel is also considered to be a target of this pact.  

It is too early to say whether it will be an anti-Israel pact or not, but the preconditions for the unification will be eloquent proof of this. Furthermore, the creation of this trilateral alliance could pave the way for the formation of a new, more inclusive Islamic alliance.  

Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which previously competed for leadership in the region, will unite under this pact to form a powerful military bloc in the Sunni world against the influence of Shiite Iran. Amid tensions in Pakistan’s relations with India and instability on the Afghan border, support from Turkey and Saudi Arabia will strengthen Islamabad’s position. 

Recently, strategic convergence has been observed in important regions such as Syria. Turkish President Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lobbied in Washington for the lifting of sanctions against the government of Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa.   

Both countries also adopted the same position on Sudan: Turkey and Saudi Arabia support the Sudanese army.