Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Forge Trilateral Defence Pact in Jeddah Amid Regional Turmoil

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a landmark trilateral defence agreement in Jeddah, marking a significant step towards deeper military cooperation among three regional powers amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and growing concerns over maritime security in the Gulf and the Red Sea.

The agreement was formalised on Friday, August 7, 2026, during a high-level summit that brought together Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Turkish President Erdogan arrived in Saudi Arabia for a one-day working visit, while Prime Minister Sharif and Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, had arrived a day earlier for a three-day official visit.

The pact, which has been under discussion for months, was accelerated by recent regional developments, including the war between the United States and Iran, which has heightened security concerns across the Gulf and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. A source close to the Saudi military told AFP that “the agreement has been under discussion for a long time, but recent developments in the region expedited it.”

A Strategic Alliance with Far-Reaching Implications

The trilateral defence agreement builds on a pre-existing Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025, under which an attack on either country would be treated as an attack on both. The new pact extends this framework to include Turkey, creating a structured framework for future defence cooperation, strengthening political and military coordination, and improving joint security efforts across the region.

The alliance combines Saudi Arabia’s economic power and diplomatic influence, Turkey’s military strength and strategic location, and Pakistan’s status as the only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority nation, potentially reshaping the regional balance of deterrence and serving as a significant counterweight to Iran.

Pakistan has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to mediate an end to the US-Iran war, while Turkey has played a prominent diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the summit’s significance “goes beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations.”

Saudi Arabia Appoints Commander of Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition

In a related development, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday, August 6, 2026, the appointment of Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri as commander of the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition, a new alliance announced  aimed at protecting freedom of navigation and securing vital waterways.

The coalition, which comprises Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Somalia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Bangladesh, Yemen, and the Comoros, is designed to enhance maritime security, protect international trade routes, and safeguard global supply chains. Rear Admiral Al-Shehri will oversee joint maritime defence operations, coordinate planning among member states and other naval alliances, and supervise joint activities in accordance with the coalition’s charter.

The appointment comes as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has brought Kuwaiti oil exports to a standstill, underscoring the critical importance of maritime security for the region’s economies. The coalition is expected to expand, with additional countries expected to complete signing the joint statement and join as founding members.

Somalia’s Role in the Maritime Coalition

Somalia, as a founding member of the maritime coalition, holds significant strategic importance due to its long coastline along the Indian Ocean and its location at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, a critical maritime chokepoint. The country has also been a founding member of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), underscoring its involvement in global counter-terrorism efforts.

Somalia has also been in discussions with Saudi Arabia and Egypt regarding a proposed tripartite security arrangement focused on Red Sea security and broadening military partnerships. The Federal Government has acknowledged ongoing discussions regarding the arrangement, which aims to enhance cooperation on maritime security and protect Somalia’s territorial waters.

Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi visited the headquarters of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition in Riyadh earlier this year, reinforcing the country’s commitment to regional and international efforts to combat violent extremism.

Critical Note

While the trilateral defence agreement and the expansion of the maritime coalition represent significant developments in regional security cooperation, the effectiveness of these alliances will depend on their implementation and the willingness of member states to coordinate and share resources. The agreement’s focus on countering Iranian influence and securing maritime chokepoints reflects the immediate security concerns of the signatories, but it also risks further entrenching regional divisions and provoking countermeasures from rival powers. Pakistan’s role as a nuclear-armed state adds a layer of complexity to the alliance, potentially drawing the country deeper into Middle Eastern security dynamics that could complicate its relations with other regional and global powers. For Somalia, participation in these coalitions offers opportunities for security cooperation and diplomatic engagement, but also carries risks of entanglement in broader regional rivalries. The government would be well advised to ensure that its involvement in these alliances serves its national interests, including the protection of its maritime resources and the strengthening of its security institutions, without undermining its sovereignty or straining its relations with other partners.