Turkey Confirms Defence Talks with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

News Desk 

Islamabad/Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday confirmed that discussions have taken place on a possible defence pact between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, but emphasized that no agreement has been signed.

Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Fidan said the talks were part of broader efforts to enhance regional cooperation and build trust. He added that regional issues could be resolved if countries were confident in each other’s intentions.

His remarks follow a Bloomberg report last week suggesting that Turkey was at an “advanced stage of discussions” to join the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025. Under the SMDA, an attack on either country is considered an act of aggression against both.

“While we are in dialogue, no formal agreement has been concluded,” Fidan said, stressing the importance of careful deliberation before committing to any defence alliance.

The Bloomberg report indicated that Turkey’s interest in joining the pact reflects concerns over the reliability of the United States and shared strategic interests with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in South Asia.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/any-attack-on-one-attack-on-both-pak-saudi-pact/

Pakistan and Turkey have maintained long-standing defence ties. Ankara has built corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy, upgraded several F-16 fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force, and shared drone technology with Islamabad. Pakistani officials credit these strengthened ties with contributing to Pakistan’s military success in last year’s May 2025 conflict with India.

In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Pakistan was exploring multiple defence agreements, including potential sales of its fighter jets. “After Pakistan won the war last year, the demand for Pakistani fighter jets has increased. Many countries are actively engaged with us to acquire the jets,” he told a federal cabinet meeting.

Earlier, Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Haraj told the BBC that Pakistan was in discussions with several countries over the possible sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets

The May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India was triggered after India launched an attack following a terrorist incident in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Pakistan has denied allegations that it was involved and called for a neutral investigation. The 87-hour war ended on May 10 with a ceasefire brokered by the United States.