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Türkiye will not enter a mutual defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a source close to the Saudi military told AFP on Saturday, contradicting earlier reports that the three nations were in negotiations to form a trilateral alliance.
"Türkiye won't join the defence pact with Pakistan," the source said, describing the arrangement as strictly bilateral. "It's a bilateral pact with Pakistan and will remain a bilateral pact."
A Gulf official confirmed the statement, saying Riyadh maintains separate agreements with Ankara but the Pakistan arrangement will not expand. The clarification follows speculation that the three countries intended to establish a powerful regional alliance amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Recent Israeli air strikes in Doha targeting Hamas officials and Iran's subsequent bombing of a U.S. air base in Qatar intensified speculation about potential security realignments in the region. Earlier this month, a Turkish official indicated that Türkiye had entered discussions about joining the Saudi-Pakistani pact, prompting widespread analysis of what such an alliance might entail.
The defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, announced last year, has raised questions about its scope, particularly regarding potential nuclear dimensions given Pakistan's nuclear weapons capabilities.
The Saudi-Pakistani agreement was signed months after Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day conflict in May that killed more than 70 people in missile, drone and artillery exchanges. The clashes marked the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbors since 1999.
Pakistan and India, both nuclear powers, have long accused each other of supporting militant groups to destabilize one another. The two countries have fought multiple wars since partition in 1947, primarily over the disputed Kashmir region.
Saudi Arabia is believed to have played a significant role in de-escalating the May conflict. Riyadh maintains strong relationships with both Islamabad and New Delhi, positioning itself as a potential mediator in South Asian disputes.
India's economy depends heavily on petroleum imports, with Saudi Arabia ranking as its third-largest oil supplier according to the Indian foreign ministry. The kingdom's energy ties with India complement its security partnership with Pakistan, creating a delicate diplomatic balance for Riyadh in managing relations with the rival nations.
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