Speculation over the emergence of deeper military cooperation among key Muslim‑majority countries has intensified as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan prepare to sign a joint defence agreement in Riyadh.

According to regional sources, the pact is expected to be formalised on Friday, raising questions about whether this marks the foundation of a broader military alliance often described as an “Islamic NATO.”

The reported agreement builds upon earlier signals from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had indicated that the existing defence and economic cooperation framework between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could expand to include Turkey and Qatar.

He suggested that discussions were already at advanced stages and could lead to a wider regional security arrangement.

Pakistan had already signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia last year. That treaty pledged that any aggression against either nation would be treated as an attack on both, echoing NATO’s collective defence principle. The new trilateral pact appears to be an extension of this framework, potentially opening the door for other states to join in the future.

Asif, in his interview with Hum News in May, emphasised that the arrangement was not directed against any country. He argued that the pact was designed to enhance regional stability and reduce dependence on external powers. He acknowledged that global interdependence would remain but stressed that peace within the region required a self‑sustaining security program.

The earlier Saudi‑Pakistan agreement was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The joint statement highlighted the historic partnership between the two nations, rooted in nearly eight decades of brotherhood, Islamic solidarity, and shared strategic interests. It underscored close defence cooperation and formalised the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.

India responded cautiously to the development. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that the pact formalised a long‑standing arrangement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that New Delhi would closely study the implications of the agreement for India’s national security, as well as for regional and global stability. He reiterated that safeguarding India’s national interests remained paramount.

The trilateral pact, if signed, could reshape the strategic landscape of West Asia. It would combine Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent and military capabilities, Saudi Arabia’s financial clout, and Turkiye’s defence‑industrial base.

However, questions remain about whether political rivalries and divergent ambitions among these states can be reconciled under a single defence framework. For India, the development warrants close monitoring, as it could alter the balance of power in the region and affect energy security and maritime stability.

ANI