Pakistan: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are expected to sign a trilateral defence agreement during a high-level summit in Saudi Arabia, according to media reports, as regional states seek closer security coordination amid ongoing instability in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day official visit, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to join the summit on Friday. The proposed agreement is aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing coordination on regional security matters.
High-level engagement in Riyadh
According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on key regional and international developments. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also part of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement following his visit to Jordan.
The Foreign Office said the visit reflects Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional peace, diplomatic cooperation and dialogue, while continuing efforts to support the peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Defence cooperation expands
The reported trilateral pact follows the Pakistan–Saudi mutual defence agreement signed in September 2025, which significantly expanded security cooperation between the two countries. In April 2026, Pakistan also deployed military assets to Saudi Arabia under the existing defence framework.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained longstanding defence ties through military training, advisory cooperation and strategic coordination, while Türkiye has emerged as one of Pakistan’s key defence and security partners in recent years.
If finalised, the new trilateral agreement would mark another step towards enhanced strategic collaboration among the three countries amid an evolving regional security environment.