Kathmandu— Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in Saudi Arabia on Friday for a routine one-day working visit. The trip marks his second this year and comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran. Erdogan is expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, focusing on maritime security, defense cooperation, and the fallout from the conflict.

Potential Defense Pact

Multiple news outlets suggest that Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan may sign a formal alliance during Erdogan's visit. According to sources close to the Saudi military and Turkish intelligence, the three leaders are set to sign a joint defense agreement in Jeddah on Friday. This pact would likely extend the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025 into a trilateral framework.

Regional Security Initiatives

The timing of Erdogan's visit is significant, coming just a week after Saudi Arabia launched a multinational maritime security initiative to protect shipping through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb strait, and Gulf of Aden. The coalition has already garnered support from 14 countries, including Turkey and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Iran continues to retaliate against US and Israeli attacks by targeting military bases hosting American troops across the region.

Previous Visit Outcomes

During Erdogan's last visit in February, Ankara and Riyadh released a joint statement pledging enhanced economic, energy, and security cooperation. They affirmed their desire to strengthen defense relations and support for the ceasefire in Gaza and the internationally recognized government in Yemen while rejecting Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.