From left, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a trilateral defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP PHOTO)Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia signed a trilateral defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday, creating a new regional security partnership as the Iran conflict reshapes alliances across the Middle East, news agency Reuters reported. The agreement comes amid heightened tensions after the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran exposed Gulf security vulnerabilities and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Turkey is a NATO member, while Saudi Arabia is a US ally, one of the world’s largest oil exporters and the strongest Gulf state. Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country.