Turkey Opts Out of Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact

Turkey has decided not to participate in a joint defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as per a source connected to the Saudi military who informed AFP. Earlier this month, a Turkish official had mentioned discussions about potentially joining the alliance. There have been rumors circulating about the formation of a robust alliance among the three nations amidst escalating tensions in the region. This was sparked by Israeli airstrikes in Doha targeting Hamas officials, followed by Iran’s attack on a US air base in Qatar. The source dismissed the reports of negotiations, stating that Turkey will not be part of the defense pact with Pakistan, emphasizing that it will remain a bilateral agreement. A Gulf official corroborated this information, specifying that the relationship with Pakistan is bilateral and separate from any agreements with Turkey.