Field Marshal Munir, Turkish military chief considers the prevailing regional security landscape

The Chief of Defense Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed the prevailing regional and global security landscape with the Turkish military chief on Friday.

Pakistan and Turkey maintain close defense ties. Ankara has been involved in building corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy and upgrading Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jets. Turkiye also shares drone technology with both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and has proposed their participation in their Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet program.

The state television company PTV News said in a post on X that Turkey’s Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu met Field Marshal Munir at the headquarters today.

“Besides elaborating on issues of common interest, the prevailing regional and global security landscape and prospects for strengthening bilateral defense and military cooperation were also discussed.

“The dignitaries expressed satisfaction with the current trajectory of Pakistan-Turkey relations while stressing the need to maintain close coordination and strengthen defense cooperation,” the statement said.

It added that CDF Munir highlighted the “longstanding brotherly relationship” between Pakistan and Turkiye, which he said was rooted in shared history, mutual trust and strong people-to-people ties.

“He appreciated the support and cooperation of the Turkish Armed Forces and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral military-to-military relations. General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu expressed gratitude for the warm reception and appreciated the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces. said.

It added that the visit “reflects the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey and their shared commitment to regional peace, stability and security”.

The Turkish military chief was presented with a guard of honor by an army contingent upon his arrival.

Read more: Pak-Saudi deal: the beginning of a new era

The meeting came after Defense Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj confirmed on January 15 that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had drawn up a draft defense agreement after nearly a year of negotiations in a signal that they could seek a bulwark against a flare-up of regional violence in the past two years.

Harraj told Reuters whether the potential deal between the three regional powers was separate from a bilateral Saudi-Pakistani defense deal announced last year. A final consensus among the three states was needed to complete the deal, he said.

“The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkiye trilateral agreement is something that is already in the pipeline,” Harraj said in an interview.

“The draft agreement is already available with us. The draft agreement is already with ⁠Saudi Arabia. The draft agreement is already available with Turkiye. And all three countries are considering. And this agreement has been there for the last 10 months.”

Bloomberg had earlier reported that Turkiye was reportedly seeking to join a strategic mutual defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg had said that discussions were at an advanced stage and that a deal was likely. The defense pact, signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh last September, obliges both countries to treat any aggression against the other as an attack on both countries.

The report said Turkiye saw the arrangement as a means of strengthening security cooperation and deterrence at a time when questions remain about the reliability of the United States and US President Donald Trump’s commitment to Nato, despite Washington’s strong military ties with all three countries.

Read also: Turkiye seeks entry into Pak-Saudi defense pact: Bloomberg

According to BloombergTurkey’s strategic interests were increasingly aligned with those of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia throughout South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa, making its inclusion in the pact a logical extension.

Analysts cited in the report highlighted the complementary strengths of the three countries, with Saudi Arabia providing financial resources, Pakistan offering nuclear capability, ballistic missile capability and manpower, and Turkiye contributing military experience and a developed defense industry.

Read more: A trilateral partnership involving Pakistan, KSA and Turkey

The report noted that Turkey’s potential entry into the pact would underscore a new phase in its relations with Saudi Arabia after years of strained ties. The two countries are now expanding cooperation in the economic and defense sectors and recently held their first ever naval meeting in Ankara.