(Web Desk) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are set to sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday (today), a source close to the Saudi military told AFP, as regional tensions continue to rise.
Speculation has been mounting for months that the three Muslim countries are seeking to form a stronger alliance amid growing instability across the region.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said: "Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye will sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday."
The source added: "This has been under discussion for a long time, but recent developments in the region have accelerated the process."
Sharif and Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a visit lasting until Saturday, while Erdoğan is scheduled to arrive on Friday, according to the Turkish presidency.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are already bound by a joint defense agreement announced in 2025.
Last January, a source close to the Saudi military told AFP that Turkiye would not join the Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement, after a Turkish official indicated at the time that Ankara was holding talks to join the alliance.