Saudi, Pakistan and Turkiye sign NATO-style defense pact
The accord deepens collective deterrence as Middle East security worries grow, with Iran-related tensions and militia threats on the rise.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signed a joint defense pact that sets out that an attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all members. The three countries said the agreement is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence against acts of aggression and expanding defense cooperation across multiple areas. The move comes amid rising security concerns in the Middle East, including threats from militia groups in Yemen and Iraq and tensions between the United States and Iran. For Riyadh, the pact provides an added layer of protection beyond its partnership with Washington. Pakistan and Turkiye, meanwhile, are seen as having an interest in preventing the conflict from spreading across the region because both border Iran.