Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey Military Superalliance: Is This The New ‘Islamic NATO’? | World News

New Delhi: Türkiye is reportedly close to joining the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan security agreement, which is shaped like a regional version of NATO. Citing sources, Bloomberg said that the proposed agreement would operate within the scope of a collective defense model similar to NATO’s Article 5, meaning that an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all members.

The process, which started with the Riyadh-Islamabad agreement, is now developing with the participation of Ankara. Analysts say Saudi Arabia will provide funding, Pakistan will contribute nuclear weapons, missiles and troops, and Türkiye will bring its military expertise and domestic defense industry.

Nihat Ali Özcan, a strategy expert at Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, explained that the regulation shows each country’s unique strategic assets.

He added that changing regional dynamics shaped this cooperation. “Changing dynamics and the consequences of regional conflicts as the United States prioritizes its own interests and Israel’s interests in the region encourage countries to develop new mechanisms to determine friends and enemies,” he said.

Formalizing this tripartite security arrangement is a logical step, according to officials familiar with the discussions. Türkiye’s strategic interests increasingly overlap with those of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa. Coordination between the three countries has actually begun.

All three held their first joint naval meeting in Ankara earlier this week, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said.

Ankara’s potential entry carries significant weight because the country is far from a peripheral player. It is a long-time member of the US-led NATO alliance and maintains NATO’s second-largest military after the United States. Its capabilities range from advanced air power to indigenous drone technology, making it a strong contributor to the emerging agreement.

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye also share long-term concerns about Iran, especially its Shiite-majority leadership. Both prefer diplomatic engagement over direct military conflict, but they are united in supporting a stable, Sunni-led Syria and defending a Palestinian state.

Türkiye’s defense relationship with Pakistan is already well established. Ankara is building corvette-class warships for the Pakistan Navy, has modernized dozens of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, and shares drone technology with both Riyadh and Islamabad. He also invited the two countries to participate in the Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet program, which will strengthen technological and operational integration.

Observers say these trilateral talks gained urgency following the ceasefire signed between India and Pakistan in May 2025, which ended the four-day military standoff known as Operation Sindoor. During this brief but intense conflict, Türkiye played a visible role in supporting Islamabad. It demonstrates its willingness to exert influence in South Asia together with its Gulf partners.

If formalized, the Saudi-Pakistan-Türkiye deal could represent one of the most ambitious regional defense initiatives in recent years. By combining financial resources, nuclear deterrence, advanced conventional forces and technology sharing, the Pact aims to create a security architecture that allows members to collectively respond to regional threats.

The move also highlights a broader trend in international security where countries are seeking alternatives to relying on US-led alliances. The emerging “Islamic NATO” alliance offers a way for Riyadh, Islamabad and Ankara to protect regional interests while sharing strategic burdens.

Experts suggest that such cooperation could go far beyond traditional military planning. Joint exercises, technology transfer, coordinated intelligence sharing and operational integration are possible elements that create a networked defense system capable of responding to crises across multiple domains.

The plan, in which Ankara plays a central role, focuses on showing that these countries can manage their own security and make independent decisions. But analysts warn that integrating these different capabilities – financial, nuclear, technological and operational – will require careful coordination and trust between the three capitals.

Insiders say momentum is rapidly increasing. Saudi money, Pakistan’s nuclear and missile power, and Türkiye’s military and technology could give these countries a powerful collective advantage and show that they can defend themselves together.

As this trilateral security partnership continues to evolve, the world will be watching closely to see whether this emerging “Islamic NATO” can evolve from concept to operational reality. The pact not only has the potential to redefine regional defense dynamics, but also to offer a new collective security model based on common capabilities and strategic alignment between countries with similar interests.