Bloomberg: Türkiye Seeks to Join Saudi Arabia–Pakistan Defense Pact

Summary:

Türkiye is in advanced talks to join a defense alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. The potential trilateral framework could reshape security dynamics across the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Africa, combining Saudi financial power, Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and Türkiye’s military experience and defense industry.

Türkiye is negotiating to accede to a defense agreement signed last September between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Bloomberg reported, citing sources with knowledge of the discussions. The talks are said to be at an advanced stage, with proponents arguing that a broader alliance would significantly enhance deterrence amid shifting regional and global security conditions.

Under the existing bilateral pact, an attack on one signatory is treated as an attack on the other. Türkiye’s inclusion would convert the arrangement into a three-way security framework.

NATO uncertainty and Ankara’s deterrence calculus

Sources told Bloomberg that Türkiye—home to NATO’s second-largest land force—sees strategic value in formalizing cooperation with Riyadh and Islamabad as interests increasingly converge across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. With Donald Trump’s stance toward NATO under renewed scrutiny, Ankara views a trilateral pact as a way to bolster deterrence and diversify its security partnerships.

Analysts: shifting dynamics drive new mechanisms

Türkiye Ekonomi Politikaları Araştırma Vakfı (TEPAV) strategist Nihat Ali Özcan said changing regional dynamics are pushing countries to develop new mechanisms to define allies and adversaries.

“Because the U.S. increasingly prioritizes its own interests and those of Israel in the region, shifting dynamics and the consequences of regional conflicts are compelling countries to create new frameworks,” Özcan said. He added that a deal could marry Saudi Arabia’s financial resources with Pakistan’s nuclear capability, ballistic missiles, and manpower, alongside Türkiye’s extensive military experience and growing defense industry.

Official responses muted

Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense declined to comment. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information did not respond to requests for comment, while Saudi officials had not replied at the time of publication.

Regional implications

Türkiye’s entry would mark a new phase in ties with Saudi Arabia, a country with which Ankara has previously competed for leadership in the Sunni Muslim world. The move would also align two countries that share security concerns regarding Iran, potentially creating a broader strategic axis.

Deepening Türkiye–Pakistan defense ties

Türkiye and Pakistan already maintain close military cooperation. Ankara is building corvette-class warships for the Pakistani navy and has undertaken the modernization of dozens of F-16 jets. Bloomberg has previously reported drone deals between Türkiye and both partners.

Discussions are also ongoing about Saudi Arabia and Pakistan potentially joining Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter program, KAAN.

A complex regional backdrop

The trilateral talks follow a four-day clash between Pakistan and India in April that ended in a ceasefire. Tensions also remain elevated between Pakistan and Afghanistan, after Islamabad accused Kabul of harboring hostile militant groups.

Taken together, the developments suggest that Türkiye’s prospective entry into the Saudi–Pakistan pact would be embedded in a complex, multi-theater security environment—one that extends well beyond bilateral diplomacy.

Source:  BloombergHT

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