Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a joint defence agreement on Friday in Jeddah, according to reports citing sources close to Saudi authorities and the Saudi military. The agreement is set to be signed in the Saudi city, with officials describing the deal as part of efforts by the three regional powers to strengthen security and defence cooperation amid heightened tensions in the Gulf. One reported view is that the defence pact has been discussed for a long time, but that recent regional developments have accelerated it.
Several outlets also report that the signing will coincide with high-level meetings among senior leaders: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are expected to meet in Jeddah. While one source characterizes the visit as occurring against the backdrop of increased Gulf tensions, another frames the agreement as having significance beyond any immediate crisis.
The reports do not provide details of the pact’s terms, but they present a consistent timeline, location, and participation by the three countries’ top leaders.
