JEDDAH: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are expected to announce a new trilateral defence arrangement. Leaders from the three countries are meeting in Jeddah today.
Foreign media reports suggest the potential agreement could be discussed during the ongoing trilateral summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Saudi Arabia for a one-day working visit.
Erdogan is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His Communications Director Burhanettin Duran confirmed the planned meetings in a social media post.
Reports said discussions over the defence arrangement had continued for an extended period. Recent developments in the region have reportedly accelerated the process.
A source cited by reports said the arrangement had been under discussion for a long time. The latest regional developments reportedly increased the urgency surrounding the agreement.
The details of the proposed joint defence pact have not yet been officially disclosed. It also remains unclear whether the agreement would focus on mutual defence or broader defence cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah earlier for a three-day visit. He is accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is also part of the Pakistani delegation. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are among the other officials travelling with the prime minister.
The Pakistani delegation was received at the airport by senior Saudi officials. Deputy Governor of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz was among those present.
Saudi Minister of Agriculture, Water and Environment Engineer Abdulrahman also attended the reception. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq was also present.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi discussed the visit during a weekly media briefing. He said the prime minister would meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the spokesperson, the talks will focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi relations. The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments.
Andrabi described the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as being based on longstanding trust. He also highlighted cooperation and close ties between the two countries.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already announced a mutual defence pact in 2025. That agreement attracted international attention because Pakistan is the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed state.
The reported trilateral initiative could add another dimension to defence cooperation among the three countries. However, officials have not released details about its proposed structure.
The joint defence pact could potentially cover cooperation between the armed forces of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Its exact scope will depend on any formal announcement.
The involvement of the three countries reflects their existing political and defence ties. They have maintained cooperation across several regional and strategic areas.
For now, the reported agreement remains subject to official confirmation. No final details have been publicly announced regarding its terms or implementation.
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The joint defence pact is expected to receive significant attention if formally announced. Regional observers will closely watch the outcome of the leaders’ discussions in Jeddah.
