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Published : 14 Jan 2026, 01:05 PM
Turkey has sought to join the defence alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Bloomberg reports.
The US-based news agency said the move could create a new security alignment in the Middle East and beyond.
The Saudi-Pakistan pact, signed in September, considers “any aggression” against one member as an attack on all, mirroring NATO’s Article 5.
The talks are at an advanced stage and a deal is very likely, Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with the matter.
It said Turkey views the pact as a way to strengthen deterrence amid questions over the reliability of the US and President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO.
Saudi Arabia provides financial resources, Pakistan contributes nuclear capabilities, ballistic missiles and manpower, while Turkey brings military experience and a developed defence industry, as per Nihat Ali Ozcan, a strategist at Ankara-based think tank TEPAV.
“As the US prioritises its own interests and that of Israel in the region, changing dynamics and fallout from regional conflicts are prompting countries to develop new mechanisms to identify friends and foes,” Bloomberg quoted Ozcan as saying.
If Turkey joins the alliance, it would mark a new era in its relations with Saudi Arabia, the former rival Sunni Muslim powers, the financial news outlet said.
The countries have begun developing economic and defence cooperation, holding their first ever naval meeting in Ankara this week, according to the Turkish defence ministry.
Turkey and Saudi share longstanding concerns over Shia-led Iran but prefer engagement over force. They also back a stable Sunni-led state in Syria and Palestinian statehood, Bloomberg reported.
Turkey and Pakistan have maintained close military ties for years. Ankara is building corvette warships for Islamabad’s navy and has upgraded dozens of F-16s.
Turkey is also sharing drone technology with both countries and now seeks their participation in its Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet programme, as per Bloomberg.
The trilateral defence talks follow a ceasefire between Pakistan and India that ended a four-day military clash in May.
Tensions remain high between Pakistan and Afghanistan after clashes linked to Taliban-hosted militant groups. Turkey and Qatar mediated talks that ended inconclusively.
