Erdogan Meets Saudi Crown Prince, Pakistan Sidestepped in Military Talks; “Islamic NATO” Plans Stall

Riyadh: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Riyadh on Tuesday, marking a significant development in regional defense diplomacy. The high-profile meeting drew global attention, particularly from Pakistan, which had sought to involve Turkey and Saudi Arabia in forming a NATO-like military alliance dubbed the “Islamic NATO.” Erdoğan, however, chose to bypass Islamabad and engage directly with MBS.

According to Middle East Eye, the joint declaration issued by Turkey and Saudi Arabia emphasized strengthening defense cooperation. The statement highlighted activating existing defense agreements, enhancing regional security and stability through multilateral platforms, and collaboration in counterterrorism and cybercrime.

From Rivals to Partners
This visit marks Erdoğan’s first to Saudi Arabia in over two years, reflecting the rapid improvement in bilateral ties between the two former rivals. Over recent years, Riyadh and Ankara have increasingly cooperated on various diplomatic issues, now extending into formal defense agreements.

Erdoğan’s visit also signals Turkey’s decision not to join the Saudi-Pakistan defense partnership, a move Pakistan had hoped for to solidify its “Islamic NATO” ambitions. Experts suggest this development is a setback for Islamabad’s regional military strategy.

Strategic Balancing for Turkey
Omar Karim, a Middle East specialist at the University of Birmingham, noted that Turkey faces the challenge of balancing its rapprochement with Riyadh alongside relationships with other regional rivals. This visit provides insights into the level of trust Saudi Arabia may place in Turkey amid its ongoing rivalry with the UAE and security concerns regarding Israel.

The meeting also underscores the dramatic turnaround in Saudi-Turkish relations, which had been strained since the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Following years of tension, the past two years have seen a steady restoration of trust and cooperation between Riyadh and Ankara.