Saudi Arabia turns to Turkiye and Pakistan for defence ties, raising questions overreliance on the US.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a joint defence pact.
It is an alliance that analysts say highlights Riyadh’s desire to diversify its defence partnerships, expanding to Ankara and Islamabad.
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The pact was announced at a time of increased regional tension.
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has launched a military operation against the Iran-aligned Houthis following a series of attacks, while Iran and the US have yet to reach a final deal to end the war.
The trilateral Mecca pact raises questions about the effectiveness of the decades-long US military presence in the Gulf. Does this alliance offer a viable alternative to the security umbrella promised by Washington?
Presenter: Anna Burns-Francis
Guests:
Abdulaziz Alghashian – Senior non-resident fellow at the Gulf International Forum
David Des Roches – Professor at the Thayer Marshall Institute
Zaid M Belbagi – Managing partner at Hardcastle Advisory
Published On 8 Aug 2026
