Middle East Membara, Pakistan PM-Turkish President Visit Saudi Discuss Defense

JAKARTA - High-ranking officials from Pakistan and Turkey have departed for Saudi Arabia. They are expected to sign a trilateral defense agreement amid the escalating conflict in the region.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in the coastal city of Jeddah on Thursday, August 6, according to an official statement from the prime minister's office.

The Pakistani delegation was warmly welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the statement said.

Saudi and Pakistani officials are expected to exchange views on further efforts to strengthen the long-standing fraternal and partnership ties, as well as discuss the situation in the region, the statement added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also departed on Friday, August 7 for a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia; he is scheduled to meet with MBS and the prime minister of Pakistan, according to Turkey's state news agency, Anadolu Agency.

If signed, the defense pact will be an important deal for the three countries, all of which have played a role in the stalled diplomatic efforts to end tensions between the US and Iran. The deal comes almost a year after Islamabad and Riyadh formed a joint defense pact, a move that strengthened a security partnership that has been in place for decades.

Meanwhile, a Saudi official told CNN that Riyadh was preparing for a "coordinated barrage" by Iraqi militias and Iran-backed Houthi groups.

Gulf officials vowed to take all necessary measures to face any aggression.