Saudi ⁠Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a ⁠joint defence agreement, Pakistan’s ⁠foreign ministry said, deepening ‌security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. The deal comes a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by powerful army chief Asim Munir, arrived in Saudi Arabia and performed the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca. The conflict has imperilled Saudi Arabia’s oil exports and ⁠ambitious development plans, and raises big questions on the reliability of its longstanding US security umbrella. While Turkey and Pakistan have avoided significant direct attacks, both are anxious to calm regional conflicts that threaten their security and economy. Pakistan has provided training and technical assistance to Saudi forces for decades, while Turkiye and Pakistan have exchanged warships ⁠and training aircraft.