RIYADH Aug 6, 2026 — Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan will sign a joint defense agreement in Saudi Arabia on Friday, two regional sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled to arrive for a one-day working visit on August 7, where he will meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is also present in the Kingdom for the talks.
The new trilateral accord builds on the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025. That bilateral pact states that any aggression against one country is considered an aggression against both.
According to details reported by CNN-News18, the upcoming agreement establishes a structured framework covering joint military exercises, technology transfers, defence-industrial production, and intelligence sharing. A Turkish intelligence source indicated that the foundational terms have already been agreed upon by the three sides.
Turkish sources have suggested the arrangement focuses heavily on defence industry cooperation and stops short of full NATO-style collective defence guarantees, reflecting Turkey’s existing membership in the Western alliance.
The move comes amid heightened regional tensions, including ongoing threats to Saudi Arabia and disruptions in key maritime routes. Analysts view the pact as an effort by the three countries — combining Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, Saudi financial resources, and Turkey’s advanced defence industry and military experience — to strengthen autonomous security cooperation.
The signing is expected during Erdoğan’s visit on Friday.
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