 "Amid Ankara push for security pact, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan hold talks in Riyadh")
Foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan met in Riyadh on Thursday on the sidelines of a summit of Islamic countries, holding discussions on ways to combine their strengths for the first time.
Turkey has been pushing since last year for a potential security arrangement involving Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with Pakistani officials earlier indicating that such a proposal had been under consideration for nearly a year. Reports citing Turkish sources have also said Ankara is keen to include Egypt in the framework.
According to these reports, the proposed arrangement would not resemble Nato-style defence guarantees but would instead function as a platform to boost cooperation in defence industries and broader security matters.
Focus on regional challenges and ‘ownership’
Speaking on the discussions, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the countries were exploring how to leverage their regional influence to address shared challenges. He stressed the importance of regional cooperation and “ownership” in resolving issues.
Fidan said the talks also covered the current regional situation, including the US-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions, with a focus on how coordinated efforts could help manage such crises. He warned that without cooperation, external powers could step in to impose solutions aligned with their own interests or hinder regional initiatives.
Joint stance highlights differences
Despite Turkey’s repeated criticism of Israel as a key driver of the conflict with Iran, a joint statement issued after the Riyadh meeting strongly criticised Tehran for its attacks on Gulf countries, while making only brief reference to Israel’s policies in Lebanon.
Fidan also underscored the need for greater trust and coordination among regional powers, noting that each country brings unique capabilities. Turkey has invested heavily in its defence industry, Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a hub for advanced technologies, and Egypt remains a key regional power with significant military strength.
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Separately, Turkey and Egypt signed a bilateral military agreement in February during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Cairo, aimed at deepening cooperation in the security domain.
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