ISTANBUL: Turkiye is in discussions with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to join a defense alliance recently formed between the two countries, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday.
“Currently, talks are ongoing, but no formal agreement has been signed yet,” Fidan told reporters, emphasizing that the process is still at an exploratory stage.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan envisions a broader and more comprehensive defense platform, Fidan added, signaling Ankara’s interest in a larger regional security framework.
The Pakistan-Saudi defense pact was signed in September, just months after a four-day military clash between Pakistan and India in May, which left over 70 people dead in the most intense confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors since 1999. The conflict involved missiles, drones, and artillery, and both countries have historically accused each other of supporting militants to destabilize the other.
Saudi Arabia is believed to have played a key role in easing tensions during the flare-up, underlining the kingdom’s influence as a regional security broker.
Joining the alliance would mark a significant step for Turkiye in expanding its defense partnerships in South Asia and the Middle East, aligning with Erdogan’s vision for a wider security platform.
