Turkey Not Joining Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact; Riyadh Clarifies Agreement to Remain Bilateral

Saudi Arabia has dispelled rumors regarding Turkey’s inclusion in its strategic defense pact with Pakistan. According to a report by AFP on Saturday (January 31), a source close to the Saudi military confirmed that the defense agreement signed between Riyadh and Islamabad will remain strictly bilateral.

The clarification follows recent speculation sparked by a Turkish official's comment about potential tripartite cooperation amidst rising regional tensions. However, Gulf officials have now reiterated that while Saudi Arabia maintains separate defense ties with Ankara, the specific mutual defense treaty with Pakistan—signed last September by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—is not open to third-party membership.

The Saudi-Pakistan pact dictates that an attack on one nation will be viewed as an act of aggression against both. By maintaining its bilateral status, the two nations aim to strengthen their long-standing "joint resistance" policy without altering the core structure of the agreement.