‘Muslim NATO’ In The Making? Turkey In Talks To Join Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact

Turkey is in advanced talks to join the Saudi-Pakistan mutual defence pact- Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement- that has a clause that deems an attack on one nation as an attack on all.

If formalised, this move could potentially reshape the security alignment across South Asia and West Asia, as Bloomberg reported.

Turkey, the transcontinental nation, has a rapidly growing defence industry and is also a part of a similar treaty- NATO- where it has the second largest military after the US.

With Turkey’s inclusion, the agreement would evolve from a bilateral understanding into a formal trilateral security bloc.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, significant progress has been made in the negotiations to include Ankara, and the likelihood of an agreement is increasing.

Analysts assessing the unfolding event have dubbed the agreement taking place as ‘Muslim NATO’ in the making.

The Saudi-Pakistan defence pact, formalised in September 2025, remains largely undisclosed but includes a collective defence clause similar to NATO’s Article 5.

What Each Country Brings to the Table?

Strategists estimate Saudi Arabia would bring financial strength to the grouping, Pakistan its nuclear capability, ballistic missiles, and manpower, while Turkey contributes military experience and a rapidly expanding defence industry.

With Saudi’s financial muscle, energy leverage, and regional influence across the Islamic world, these three nations with shared ideology could alter the power game in the Middle East and beyond.

Despite the strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey in the past over rivalry for the Sunni Muslim Leadership and influence in the Middle East and beyond, the two nations appear to have moved beyond the past, and are expanding economic and defence cooperation, united by overlapping concerns over Iran, Syria, and the broader regional order.

However, both sides prefer engagement with Tehran over confrontations. Both countries recently held their first-ever naval meeting in Ankara.

Riyadh and Ankara share a common position in backing Palestinian statehood.

Engagement between Ankara and Islamabad has rapidly deepened in recent years.

Providing hundreds of drones, including Bayraktar TB2 and loitering munitions, Turkey played a direct and visible role in supporting Islamabad during Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which turned into four days of military confrontations.

Turkish shipyards are assisting Pakistan in constructing Babur-class corvette warships.

Turkey has already delivered two warships, PNS Babur and PNS Khyber.

Turkish Aerospace Industries is also overseeing the mid-life upgrade of 42 F-16 fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force, which will significantly extend their operational life.

Implications for India’s Strategic Calculus

India shares a strong and strategic tie with Saudi, however, the recent developments showcase that New Delhi’s relations with Ankara are strained.

India is already quietly strengthening defence and diplomatic ties with Greece and Cyprus, while its strategic partnership with Israel could become even more crucial in this changing environment.

This is not just about diplomacy or symbolism. It’s about deterrence, alliances, and the future balance of power in a vast region stretching from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean.

Also Read: Saudi Checkmate: How Riyadh Outmanoeuvred The UAE In Yemen And The Horn Of Africa