News- World: Turkey is seeking to join Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in a NATO-style military alliance, potentially creating a new security alignment that could affect regional balances, Turkish media reported.

According to a Friday report, “In September, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a defense pact that treats “any aggression” against one member as an attack on all, mirroring NATO’s Article 5.”

“Talks on Turkey’s participation are at an advanced stage, and a deal is considered likely,” the report wrote, citing sources familiar with the matter speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Ankara also views the arrangement as a way to bolster security and deterrence amid questions over US reliability and President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO, of which Turkey is a member,” the newspaper added.

All three countries would benefit from such an alliance based on their individual contributions, according to Nihat Ali Ozcan, a strategist at the Ankara-based think tank TEPAV.

Saudi Arabia possesses significant financial resources due to its oil reserves, Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and a large standing army, and Turkey has soldiers with combat experience and a developed defense industry, including advanced drone production.

Ozcan explained that “shifting regional dynamics are prompting countries to seek new mechanisms to define security partnerships.”

In a sign of their recent rapprochement, the Saudi and Turkish militaries held their first-ever naval meeting in Ankara this week, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Pakistan has enjoyed long-standing military cooperation with both Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Still, it is seeking even closer alliances in the wake of its conflicts with India in May and the Taliban-led Afghan government in October.

According to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan support the Pakistani branch of the Taliban, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out attacks in Pakistani territory, including twin suicide bombings targeting a courthouse in Islamabad in November.

Source: Press TV