Erdogan visits Riyadh: Seeking new regional defense alliances

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived in Riyadh, marking the first stop of a critical tour that includes Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with regional security architecture and the search for new alliances topping the agenda.

The visit comes at a time when the possibility of a US intervention against Iran is being discussed and new geopolitical blocs are forming in the Middle East. Analysts suggest Türkiye is seeking to strengthen its own axis in the region through these high-level contacts.

Defense industry and new cooperation areas

Accompanied by a large delegation of business leaders, Erdoğan aims to lay the foundations for new collaborations in strategic sectors such as the defense industry, energy, infrastructure, and technology. However, beyond economic ties, the contacts are seen as part of Türkiye's effort to establish a security mechanism independent of the US and Russia.

Will Türkiye join the Saudi-Pakistan alliance?

A key question surrounding the visit is whether Türkiye will join the defense pact formalized between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025. This agreement includes a "mutual defense commitment" similar to NATO's Article 5.

According to Bloomberg, Türkiye is in advanced talks to join this strategic alliance. Nihat Ali Özcan, a foreign policy analyst at TEPAV, attributes this search for new partners to global uncertainties and a loss of confidence in US policies. "The world is being reshaped, and everyone is in search of something. This alliance is a result of that search," Özcan noted.

Regional security architecture: A "Middle East EU"

Ankara's stated goal is not to create polarization but to establish a stability platform often described as a "Middle East EU," based on mutual trust and inclusivity.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has previously emphasized the need to "eliminate the lack of trust between nation-states" and increase coordination with regional countries. Foreign policy analyst Dr. Gökhan Çınkara points to a rising common understanding among Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt, suggesting that while it may not immediately turn into a military pact, it will significantly boost strategic coordination.

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