title:Turkish FM Hakan Fidan Pushes Inclusive Defense Pact with SaudiPakistan
ISLAMABAD: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has outlined a vision for aproposed defense cooperation framework involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia, andPakistan that prioritizes inclusivity and regional solidarity over narrowalliances. Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Fidan confirmedongoing discussions but clarified that no formal agreement has been signedyet. His remarks come amid reports of a draft trilateral defense pactprepared after nearly a year of negotiations, building on the existingSaudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in September 2025.Fidan stressed that such initiatives should evolve into broader platformsto foster trust and enable countries to resolve their own issues withoutexternal meddling.
The minister described the ideal mechanism as a “solidarity platform”rather than a regional camp, open to expansion beyond the initialparticipants. He noted that arrangements could begin with two or threecountries but would be more effective if they eventually include mostnations in the wider region. This inclusive approach, according to Fidan,aligns with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s emphasis on creatingwider cooperation and long-term stability. By promoting mutual assuranceamong regional states, the framework aims to address security threatsstemming from terrorism, instability, and distrust that have historicallyinvited interventions by outside powers.
Fidan’s comments reflect growing concerns over regional volatility,including recent escalations that have exposed vulnerabilities in relianceon traditional security guarantees. He pointed to examples where hegemonshave intervened, leading to significant costs and prolonged messes foraffected countries. Without strong regional solidarity, he warned, suchexternal involvements become inevitable, undermining local ownership ofproblems. The proposed pact seeks to counter this by encouraging countriesto build confidence in one another, thereby reducing the space fordisruptive foreign influences.
Reports from multiple sources indicate that Pakistan’s Minister for DefenceProduction Raza Hayat Harraj disclosed the existence of a draft agreementunder deliberation among the three capitals. The trilateral talks areseparate from the bilateral Saudi-Pakistan accord, which includes acollective defense clause treating aggression against one as an attack onboth. Turkish officials have been cautious, framing the discussions asexploratory and part of a larger vision for flexible security cooperationrather than rigid commitments. This positions the initiative as a potentialstep toward multipolar arrangements in a region facing multifaceted threats.
The strategic significance of the three countries involved cannot beunderstated. Turkey brings advanced military-industrial capabilities andNATO’s second-largest army, Saudi Arabia contributes substantial economicresources and religious influence across the Islamic world, while Pakistanoffers nuclear deterrence and a large conventional force. Together, theyrepresent a formidable combination that could enhance collective resilienceagainst common challenges. However, Fidan reiterated that the focus remainson inclusivity to avoid perceptions of exclusivity or confrontation,ensuring the platform serves broader regional interests.
Critics and analysts have speculated on the implications, with some dubbingit a potential “Muslim NATO” due to the mutual defense language in thefoundational Saudi-Pakistan pact. Yet Fidan downplayed suchcharacterizations, insisting on a non-hegemonic model grounded in trust andopenness. He argued that true regional ownership requires countries todemonstrate solidarity, preventing the emergence of power vacuums thatexternal actors exploit. This stance echoes Turkey’s broader foreign policypush for independent problem-solving in the Middle East and beyond.
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The timing of these developments coincides with heightened geopoliticaluncertainties, including tensions involving major powers and non-stateactors. By advocating for a platform that starts small but aspires to widerparticipation, Fidan positions the initiative as pragmatic andevolutionary. It allows initial cooperation among like-minded states whileleaving room for others to join, potentially including additional Gulf orMuslim-majority nations facing similar security dilemmas.
Observers note that such a framework could reshape security dynamics byreducing dependence on Western alliances and promoting intra-regionalmechanisms. Fidan’s emphasis on avoiding the pitfalls of past interventionsunderscores a desire for self-reliance. As discussions continue, theoutcome will depend on achieving consensus among the parties whilemaintaining the inclusive ethos he has championed.
Source:https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-saudi-turkey-defence-deal-pipeline-pakistani-minister-says-2026-01-15/
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