Foreign ministers of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan held a key meeting in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss forming a regional security alliance. The discussion took place on the sidelines of an Islamic nations’ conference, focusing on how to strengthen cooperation in defense and security matters.

According to diplomatic sources, Turkey initiated the idea last year, seeking to include Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with Egypt later joining the process. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the proposed alliance would serve as a security platform to enhance defense and military collaboration, though it would not be a formal defense pact like NATO.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing war in the Middle East, U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes. Participants discussed possible joint measures to manage the region’s security challenges. Observers noted that such cooperation could reshape strategic dynamics amid continuing instability and conflict in the Middle East.