Islamic NATO: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia recently allied with an agreement that is similar to NATO’s Article 5. According to this agreement, an attack on one member will be considered an attack on all. As many are calling it ‘Islamic NATO’ or ‘Muslim NATO’, Turkey is about to enter the alliance between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Turkey is in talks to join a strong defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Talks for Turkey’s inclusion have progressed significantly.
According to a Bloomberg report, this agreement was first signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025, called the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement. Now, Turkey is seeking to join it, and negotiations are advanced. The likelihood of an agreement is considered high.
What is the Islamic Alliance
This new alliance reflects the interests of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. They work together in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Turkey sees this as a way to strengthen its security. America’s allegiance to NATO has been questioned, especially under Trump. Nevertheless, the US maintains close military ties with all three countries. This alliance is being described as a kind of Islamic NATO, with Saudi Arabia providing funding, Pakistan providing nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and military power, while Turkey will contribute through its military experience and rapidly growing defense industry.
Nihat Ali Ozkan, a strategist at the Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, said that with the US now focusing more on its own interests and those of Israel, these countries are developing new ways to identify new friends and enemies. The three countries share common interests in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.
Countries Contributing to this Alliance
- Saudi Arabia: Will provide significant funding and financial support. Saudi Arabia has significant oil revenues, which will help sustain this coalition.
- Pakistan: Will provide nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and a large army. Pakistan is the only Islamic country in the world that possesses nuclear weapons.
- Turkiye: Offers strong military experience, a domestic defense industry, and modern weapons. Turkiye is a member of NATO and has the second-largest military force after the United States. Turkiye is building corvette warships for Pakistan, upgrading F-16 fighter jets, sharing drone technology, and is discussing inclusion in the
Implications for India
India has been monitoring this “Islamic NATO” plan. This development is significant because Turkiye is a long-standing NATO member. In May 2025, Operation Sindoor took place between India and Pakistan, in which Turkiye openly supported Pakistan. Following that clash, a ceasefire was established between the two countries. This alliance has yet to be fully formed, but if Turkiye joins, it could transform the security of South Asia and the Middle East. Experts believe that this alliance is primarily aimed at Iran and regional challenges, not India or Israel. However, India is cautious because Pakistan and Turkiye have previously spoken out against India on the Kashmir issue.