Turkish VP: Saudi-Pakistan defence pact seeks regional stability, not Iran

Türkiye's defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is aimed at strengthening regional security and preventing further escalation rather than targeting Iran or any other country, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said.

Speaking to a local television channel, Yilmaz said the agreement was particularly significant amid growing global security challenges, weakening international mechanisms and the erosion of widely accepted rules, Caliber.Az reports per local media. 

He said closer cooperation among regional powers could help create a “security buffer zone” at a time of heightened risks.

Yilmaz noted that Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country, Saudi Arabia has significant economic strength, and Türkiye has an advanced military-industrial sector.

“This is not about creating a mechanism against Iran or any other parties. The signatory countries aim to prevent further rounds of escalation in the region,” Yilmaz said.

He added that Ankara views the agreement as complementary to its existing commitments within NATO rather than as an alternative to the alliance.

From Türkiye’s perspective, the agreement is “a complement to NATO, not an alternative to the North Atlantic Alliance.”

Asked why Egypt had not joined the agreement, Yilmaz said the arrangement remained open to other countries and did not rule out future Egyptian participation.

“The scope of the agreement will be determined by the three countries that signed it yesterday. I do not rule out Cairo’s involvement. Why not? Egypt is a militarily strong country that is important from various perspectives,” he said.

Yilmaz stressed that Türkiye was seeking to address regional challenges through diplomacy rather than confrontation.

Türkiye “is not looking for adventures” but aims to resolve issues through diplomatic means, he said.

“Türkiye’s security does not begin at its borders. It is important to cooperate closely and establish contacts with partners. Ankara relies on both its defence industry and its alliances. This is very important for the country’s long-term development,” Yilmaz said.

The Turkish vice president also rejected descriptions of the trilateral agreement as an “alliance of Sunni states,” saying its focus was strictly on defence.

“As the name suggests, the agreement concerns defence. We hope it will benefit the Islamic world and humanity as a whole. Our goal is the peaceful coexistence of all peoples of different faiths in the region,” Yilmaz said.

By Sabian Mammadli