Turkey will not join a mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a source close to the Saudi military tells AFP, after a Turkish official said earlier this month that they had entered talks aimed at entering the alliance.
Speculation has been rife that the three countries were intent on forming a powerful alliance amid soaring tensions in the region.
“Turkey won’t join the defense pact with Pakistan,” the source tells AFP, dismissing reports of negotiations.
“It’s a bilateral pact with Pakistan and will remain a bilateral pact.”
A Gulf official also confirms the information.
“This is a bilateral defensive relationship with Pakistan. We have common agreements with Turkey but the one with Pakistan will stay bilateral,” the official says.
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