Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan plan joint military exercises

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have agreed to conduct joint military exercises as part of their new Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The agreement, signed on August 7, aims to strengthen defence ties between the three countries. According to Turkey's Defence Ministry, the deal will create a stronger and more lasting military partnership.

The agreement has raised eyebrows in the region, particularly in Israel, where some voices are concerned about the emergence of powerful Sunni countries working together. Turkey is a vocal critic of Israel, and Saudi Arabia was once considered a possible partner in the Abraham Accords. The deal has sparked questions about its implications for Israel and the region.

The Jerusalem Post notes that the agreement illustrates how countries in the region are seeking to work together amid growing uncertainty over the global order, citing the Ukraine war, October 7 war, and Iran war as factors contributing to this trend. The pact has also raised questions about Egypt's exclusion, given its friendly relations with Saudi Arabia.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Jerusalem Post — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.