By The South Asia Times

MAKKAH – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye to sign a landmark trilateral defence agreement today, formalising a security alliance that analysts say could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond.

The signing will took place following a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.

Prime Minister Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day visit at the invitation of the Crown Prince. He was received at the palace by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom he is currently holding a bilateral meeting. Accompanying the Prime Minister are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Saudi Arabia today for a one-day working visit and is expected to join the trilateral discussions.

The agreement has been in the pipeline for nearly a year, with Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj confirming in January that a draft was under deliberation among the three countries. The deal expands upon a bilateral "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, which stipulated that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both.

Analysts have noted that the three countries bring complementary strengths to the alliance. Saudi Arabia offers financial clout, Pakistan contributes nuclear capability, ballistic missiles, and manpower, while Turkiye provides military experience and a developed defence industry.

The alliance builds on growing defence cooperation among the three nations. Turkiye is already building corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy, sharing drone technology, and has invited Pakistan to join its KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet programme. Meanwhile, Saudi-Turkish relations have warmed significantly in recent years, with both countries signing billions of dollars in trade and defence deals.

The agreement comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and follows the emergence of an informal coordination mechanism involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt—dubbed the "Regional Four" (R4)—which has been coordinating on issues including ceasefire efforts and maritime security.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had previously articulated a vision for broader regional security cooperation, stating that "all regional nations must come together to create a cooperation platform on the issue of security". Today's agreement represents a significant step toward that vision.