Türkiye seeks to join military alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Turkey is seeking to join the defense alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The talks are at an advanced stage and a deal is very likely, Bloomberg reported.

The deal, initially signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September, states that “any aggression” against one country is considered an attack on all. That mirrors Article 5 in NATO, of which Turkey is the largest military after the U.S.

Saudi Arabia brings financial clout, Pakistan has nuclear capability, ballistic missiles and manpower, while Turkey has the military experience and has developed a defense industry.

The expanded alliance would make sense because Turkey’s interests increasingly overlap with those of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in South Asia, the Middle East and even Africa.

Turkey also sees the pact as a way of strengthening security and deterrents when there are questions over the reliability of the U.S., which has strong military ties with all three countries, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO.