7. Suudi Arabistan kralı
The U.S. Is Quietly Building a New Energy Foothold in Iraq
There have been perhaps a handful of events since the end of the Second World War that have fundamentally reshaped the world’s oil markets and consequently its geopolitics while remaining largely unnoticed at the time. The quiet agreement between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Saudi King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud struck on 14 February 1945 that would define the energy, economic, political and military relationship between the two countries until the rise of American shale in the early 2010s is one, as analysed in my latest…
World leaders extend greetings to Pakistan on Independence Day, hail bilateral ties
Felicitations poured in from other nations on Friday as Pakistan celebrated 79 years of independence. World leaders and diplomats, from the Iranian president to US State Secretary Marco Rubio, not just wished Pakistan and its people on the country’s 80th Independence Day, but also took the opportunity to hail Islamabad’s ties with their countries. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated President Asif Ali Zardari, wishing the government and people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). King Salman also praised the “strong relations” between the two countries, highlighting the “shared commitment to advancing cooperation across all fields”, SPA reported. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, described Pakistan’s Independence Day as a valuable opportunity to honour the achievements of the nation, reaffirming Tehran’s firm resolve to further strengthen its relations with Pakistan, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported. He also expressed “readiness to take more effective steps to advance bilateral ties” and “secure the common interests of both sides”, the report said. It added that Pezeshkian noted that the “shared interests of the Iranian and Pakistani nations have become inextricably interwoven, a reality that underscores the need for greater synergy and closer cooperation” and stressed that a “new turning point has begun in deepening and expanding the longstanding and strategic relations” between Tehran and Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi congratulated his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, according to IRNA. The state-run Iranian news agency reported that Araghchi said that continued political consultations and the strengthening of economic, trade, border, security, and cultural cooperation between the two countries would pave the way to leverage existing capacities and secure their shared interests. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his message on Pakistan’s Independence Day, appreciated “the partnership between our nations and the bonds of friendship between our peoples”. “Together, through our cooperation on regional mediation, critical minerals, energy, counterterrorism, cultural heritage, and trade and investment, we are turning potential into progress and delivering real results for Americans and Pakistanis alike,” Rubio said. In Islamabad, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met Dar and congratulated him. Turkiye’s foreign ministry also extended felicitations to the “friendly and brotherly Pakistan”. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Dar and “extended warm greetings on Pakistan’s Independence Day to the leadership, government and people of Pakistan, and conveyed his best wishes for continued peace, progress and prosperity,” the FO said in another post. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Zardari and PM Shehbaz, commending Pakistan-Russia relations. “I am confident that we will continue our constructive joint efforts to further strengthen the entire spectrum of our partnership for the benefit of the friendly peoples of Russia and Pakistan, and in the interests of enhancing international security and stability,” a post on the Russian embassy’s X account quoted him as saying. Meanwhile, UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, “conveyed warm wishes” on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the Foreign Office (FO) said on X. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, met Dar, congratulated him and reaffirmed the “close and time-tested ties between” Islamabad and China, according to the FO. Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement posted on X, congratulated the Pakistani government and people, adding that “Romania remains committed to further strengthening our bilateral relations, including under the EU-Pakistan framework”. Georgia, meanwhile, expressed its “cordial wishes for peace and prosperity of Pakistani people”, adding that it was looking forward to “further advancing our friendly relations”. Azerbaijan also extended “heartfelt congratulations to the brotherly people and the government of Pakistan”.
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıOIC hails Makkah defence deal as PM returns
THE PM House is illuminated in green and red lights, depicting the national flags of the three signatories, on the eve of celebrations marking the defence agreement.—APP • Shehbaz visits Madina before departure • Turkish minister says pact same as Nato’s Article 5 • Bilawal terms it historic document for regional peace ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, terming it an “important strategic step”. The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers the three states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. In a statement posted on X, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed his “strong appreciation and support” for the agreement, describing it as an “important strategic step” that reflected the three countries’ commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact during the “Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence”. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif were also present at the signing ceremony. Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly has said the new tripartite agreement “does not supersede or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries”. Earlier, the Turkish president said the pact targets no country and remains open to participation of other friendly nations seeking peace. On Saturday morning, the prime minister paid a visit to Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madina. He then departed for Pakistan from the Madina airport, where he was seen off by Madina Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan Al Saud. ‘Erdogan wants alliance to grow’ Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the defence pact is technically the same as Nato’s Article 5 mutual defence agreement, adding that the accord is not targeting Iran, Reuters reported. He added that a committee of ministers similar to that within Nato would be formed as part of the alliance, as well as a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia, but that operational details would be set at the first committee meeting. He further said Turkish President Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, and that Egypt was a potential candidate to join, among others. Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the signing of the agreement, describing it as a significant milestone for regional peace. Also, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, also a former foreign minister, hailed the agreement as a “significant milestone” in the country’s history. In a post on X, he noted that the pact was a “historic development that will further strengthen our defence capabilities”. “This agreement is not only a guarantee of a stable and secure future for Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, but also a historic document for regional and global peace,” he emphasised. The PPP chairman also praised the roles of PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir “in making the agreement possible”. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2026
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıOIC welcomes Pak-Saudi-Turkiye joint defence pact, calls it 'important strategic step'
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, terming it an “important strategic step”. The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers the three states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. In a statement posted on X, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed his “strong appreciation and support” for the agreement, describing it as an “important strategic step” that reflected the three countries’ commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation. Taha said the agreement constitutes “a fundamental pillar for supporting security and stability in the region and across the Muslim world”. He added that it embodies a “shared resolve to address growing security challenges and strengthen solidarity and constructive partnerships” among the OIC member states. The OIC is the second largest organisation after the United Nations, with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye among its 57 members. The OIC chief also praised the “tireless efforts and wise leadership” of the three countries that culminated in the signing of the “historic agreement”. He expressed hope that the pact would contribute to achieving peace and prosperity in the region and the wider international community. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday at a trilateral summit in Makkah, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact during the “Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence”. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif were also present at the signing ceremony. The Turkish president has said the pact targets no country and remains open to participation of other friendly nations seeking peace. PM Shehbaz undertook a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8, while Erdogan made a one-day trip to attend the summit. On Saturday morning, the prime minister paid a visit to Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madina. He then departed for Pakistan from the Madina airport, where he was seen off by Madina Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan Al Saud.
Başbakan Şahbaz, Suudi Arabistan'a Üç Günlük Ziyarete BaşladıCumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, Suudi Arabistan'a geldi
Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan ve beraberindekileri taşıyan özel uçak, Kral Abdülaziz Uluslararası Havalimanı'na iniş yaptı. Erdoğan'ı burada Mekke Bölge Emir Yardımcısı Mişal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Türkiye'nin Riyad Büyükelçisi Emrullah İşler ile Cidde Başkonsolosu Mustafa Ünal karşıladı. Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, daha sonra kara yoluyla Mekke'ye hareket etti. Erdoğan, çalışma ziyareti çerçevesinde, Mekke'de Suudi Arabistan Veliaht Prensi Muhammed Bin Selman ve Pakistan Başbakanı Şahbaz Şerif'le bir araya gelecek. Son dakika... Ahbap'ın yönetimine kayyum atandı Son dakika! AFAD'dan açıklama: Marmaris'te 4.1 büyüklüğünde deprem: Osman Bektaş asıl riski açıkladı
Hem denizden hem havadan! Doğu Akdeniz’de ‘beyaz mesaj’
AYDIN HASAN / ANKARA - Deniz Kuvvetleri Komutanı Oramiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu başkanlığındaki heyet, Türkiye ile Suriye arasındaki askerî iş birliğinin geliştirilmesi ve Suriye Silahlı Kuvvetleri’nin yeniden yapılandırılmasına yönelik çalışmalar kapsamında TCG İstanbul fırkateyni ile 13 Temmuz’da Suriye’nin Lazkiye limanına ziyarette bulundu. Dört yıldızlı ziyaret ile verilmek istenen mesajlar özetle şöyle: ■ NATO Zirvesi: 7-8 Temmuz’daAnkara’da yapılan NATO Zirvesi’nde Türkiye’nin Avrupa’nın güvenlik mimarisi ile Karadeniz, Kafkasya, Orta Doğu ve Akdeniz bölgesindeki kritik önemi ortaya çıktı. Bu ziyaret ile Doğu Akdeniz’de jeopolitik, askerî ve ticari öneme sahip stratejik limanlardan biri olan Lazkiye’ye, 5 savaş gemisinden oluşan bir deniz görev gücü ile ziyaret yapıldı. TCG İstanbul’un liderliğinde yapılan ziyarete, TCG Gemlik fırkateyni, TCG Heybeliada korveti ile TCG Bora ve TCG Tayfun hücümbotları eşlik etti. TCG İstanbul 2hücümbot ile Lazkiye limanına girdi. Savaş gemisi ile yapılan nezaket ziyaretinin ötesine taşındı. ■ Trump-Şara görüşmesi: Suriye Cumhurbaşkanı Ahmed el-Şara, NATO Zirvesi için Ankara’da bulunan ABD Başkanı Donald Trump ile görüşmüştü. Ziyaret, Şara’nın Ankara temaslarının ileSuriye’de parlamentonun ilk kez toplanmasından bir gün sonra yapıldı. ■ Terör koridoru kapandı: Türkiye, Irak sınırından Suriye’nin kuzeyine uzanarak Kamışlı, Ayn el-Arab, Münbiç, Afrin hattı üzerinden Akdeniz’e uzanan terör koridoru projesini, askeri harekatlar ile engellemişti. Lazkiye, bu koridorun denize çıkış noktasıydı.Lazkiye ziyaretiterör koridorunun kapandığının tescili oldu. ■ Beyaz üniforma: Tatlıoğlu’nu rıhtımda karşılayan Suriye Deniz Kuvvetleri Komutanı Tuğgeneral Muhammed El Suud’un yazlık kıyafeti olan beyaz üniforma giymesi “Biz artık milis gücü değiliz; kurumları, kuralları ve diplomatik protokolleri olan meşru ve modern bir devlet donanmasıyız” mesajı olarak algılandı. Tam kadro Kıbrıs’ta Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler, Mutlu Barış Harekâtı’nın 52’nci yıl dönümü törenlerine katılmak üzere beraberinde Genelkurmay Başkanı Orgeneral Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu ve kuvvet komutanlarıyla KKTC’ye gitti. Türk Hava Kuvvetleri, Kıbrıs Adası semalarında gövde gösterisi yaptı. MSB, “Her zaman, her yerde, göklerimizin yılmaz bekçileriyiz” ifadelerini kullandı.
Doğu Akdeniz’de Askerî İş Birliği: TCG İstanbul Lazkiye Limanı’nda