Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding a potential new regional security agreement involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, emphasizing that no formal pact has yet been signed. This acknowledgment came during a press conference in Istanbul, where Fidan highlighted the necessity for regional nations to build trust and cooperation to resolve common challenges. His statements follow earlier comments from Pakistani Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj, who revealed that a draft agreement between the three nations has been under negotiation for nearly ten months. The prospect of this trilateral alignment marks a significant evolution in the security landscape of the Muslim world, spearheaded by nations asserting their strategic autonomy.
The Cornerstone Agreement
The foundation for this potential trilateral cooperation is the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025. This landmark pact formalizes a decades-old, deep-rooted partnership based on religious, cultural, and strategic ties. Its core principle is a collective security guarantee, treating an act of aggression against one as an act against both. Analysts view the SMDA as a direct response to regional instability and a signal of diminished confidence in traditional security guarantors, particularly following events like the Israeli airstrike on Doha in September 2025. For Pakistan, the agreement reinforces its position as a leading Muslim-majority nuclear power and a pivotal security partner for the Gulf. For Saudi Arabia, it represents a strategic diversification of its defense relationships, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals of greater self-reliance.
Pakistan's Proven Defense Prowess
A major factor driving international interest in defense cooperation with Pakistan is its demonstrated military capability. Officials credit the country's success against India in the May 2025 conflict to its strengthened defense posture, which has subsequently increased global demand for Pakistani military hardware. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has noted a surge in interest from multiple countries seeking to acquire Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder fighter jets following the conflict. This homegrown technological achievement, coupled with Pakistan's established nuclear deterrent, makes it a uniquely valuable partner in any regional security framework. The potential trilateral pact is seen not as a rejection of old alliances but as a pragmatic move by all parties to build a layered portfolio of security options in an unpredictable world.
Hedging and Strategic Autonomy
The move towards new regional pacts is largely driven by a shared desire to hedge against uncertainty and external interventions. Turkey's approach is characterized as seeking leverage and "optionality" within the international system, building parallel relationships to widen its diplomatic and strategic room to maneuver. Similarly, Saudi Arabia is seen as building redundancy into its security architecture amid perceptions of fluctuating American commitments. These shifts indicate a broader trend where Middle Eastern security is transitioning from reliance on a single dominant underwriter to a more complex, multipolar system managed by the regional states themselves. Foreign Minister Fidan framed this as a natural and necessary development, arguing that if regional countries can commit to each other's security, a significant majority of their problems can be resolved internally.
Future Vision
While the draft for a Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan agreement exists, all parties are proceeding with deliberate caution. Minister Fidan stressed that talks should not be confused with final commitments and that Turkey's vision, as outlined by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is for an inclusive and broader regional cooperation platform. He also explicitly stated Turkey's opposition to any foreign military intervention in the region, particularly regarding Iran, advocating instead for diplomatic resolutions.