Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Saudi Arabia on Friday for what his office has described as a routine one-day working visit, according to Al Jazeera. This comes amid ongoing regional tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran.

Trilateral Discussions Expected

Erdogan is expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, though Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the kingdom on Thursday for a three-day visit alongside Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

According to Turkish presidential communications director Burhanettin Duran, the visit will focus on “bilateral relations and regional developments.” Duran did not provide a detailed agenda for the meeting, saying only that it is intended for Erdogan to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Possible Defence Pact

Regional media reports suggest that the three leaders may sign a formal alliance during the visit. A source close to the Saudi military told AFP that the leaders are set to sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday. A Turkish intelligence source added that the pact’s foundational terms had already been agreed to among the three sides.

If confirmed, the agreement would likely expand the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed in September 2025. That agreement treats an attack on one country as an attack on the other. This new pact would create a three-way framework with Turkiye. However, none of the three governments has publicly confirmed these details, and a more modest joint statement remains a possibility.

Regional Security and Tensions

Erdogan’s visit comes a week after Saudi Arabia announced a multinational maritime security initiative aimed at protecting shipping through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Aden. This initiative has already been supported by 14 countries, including Turkiye and Pakistan.

The visit also follows months of instability in the Strait of Hormuz, caused by the US and Israel’s war on Iran. Islamabad has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict. Iran has responded to US and Israeli attacks by launching missiles and drones at military bases hosting American troops across the region, including in Gulf states. Iran has also targeted hotels and energy sites in the region.

Separately, the kingdom has been dealing with heightened tensions with the Houthis in Yemen. The two sides have been exchanging attacks over the past weeks, with the Yemeni group targeting Saudi ships in the Red Sea.

During his previous visit to Riyadh in February, Erdogan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement pledging to enhance economic, energy, and security cooperation. The statement said both sides affirmed their desire to strengthen defence relations to serve the interests of both countries and contribute to regional security and stability.

The two leaders also expressed alignment on support for a ceasefire in Gaza and the internationally recognized government in Yemen. They also rejected Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland in Somalia. The statement said both sides affirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.