Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is conducting a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday, described by his office as a routine working engagement occurring amid regional instability. The visit marks Erdogan’s second trip to the kingdom this year and follows the outbreak of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, as the two nations move toward strengthened relations.
Erdogan is slated to participate in a trilateral meeting alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who arrived in the country on Thursday. Turkish presidential communications director Burhanettin Duran characterized the discussions as centered on “bilateral relations and regional developments,” though specific agenda items remain undisclosed. Regional media outlets have reported that conversations may address maritime security, consequences stemming from the US-Israel war on Iran, and defence cooperation arrangements.
Multiple news sources indicate the three nations may formalize an alliance during the meeting. A source connected to the Saudi military informed AFP that the leaders plan to sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday, while a Turkish intelligence source stated that foundational terms had already been established among the parties. Such an accord could expand the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan established in September 2025 into a trilateral framework incorporating Turkey. However, the three governments have not publicly confirmed these reports, and the visit could result in a more limited joint statement instead.
The timing carries considerable significance. The visit occurs one week following Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a multinational maritime security initiative designed to protect shipping routes through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition has garnered support from 14 countries, including Turkey and Pakistan. The meeting also follows extended instability in the Strait of Hormuz related to regional military tensions, during which Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential mediator. Recent Iranian retaliation against US and Israeli operations has included missile and drone strikes targeting military installations throughout the region, alongside attacks on hotels and energy infrastructure. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has contended with intensified tensions involving Houthi forces in Yemen, with both sides engaging in ongoing hostilities and Yemeni militants attacking Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.
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