ISTANBUL, January 15, 2026: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday confirmed that discussions have taken place regarding a possible defence pact involving Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, but clarified that no agreement has yet been signed.
Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Fidan addressed reports suggesting Ankara was close to joining the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He stressed the importance of broader regional cooperation, trust, and confidence-building, noting that many regional challenges could be resolved if countries were “sure of each other.”
His remarks followed a recent Bloomberg report claiming that Turkiye was in advanced-stage discussions to join the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defence pact, which treats an attack on one signatory as an act of aggression against both.
The agreement was signed on September 17, 2025, during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
According to analysts, Turkiye’s interest in the pact is driven by shifting regional dynamics, growing defence cooperation with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and concerns over the reliability of traditional Western allies, particularly the United States.
Pakistan and Turkiye share decades-long defence ties. Turkiye is currently constructing corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy, has upgraded Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jets, and has cooperated closely with Islamabad on drone technology.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly highlighted these partnerships as key to strengthening national defence capabilities.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan is engaged in defence-related discussions with several countries, including talks on the export of Pakistani-made fighter jets.
Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Haraj has also confirmed negotiations with multiple states for the sale of JF-17 Thunder aircraft.
Regional security cooperation gained renewed attention following the May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India, which ended after an 87-hour confrontation and a US-brokered ceasefire.
Since then, Pakistan has reported increased international interest in its defence industry and strategic partnerships.
