Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Saudi Arabia on Friday for a one-day working visit that could test whether closer ties with Riyadh and Islamabad are moving toward a formal security arrangement. Erdogan is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with Turkish presidential communications director Burhanettin Duran saying the talks will cover "bilateral relations and regional developments." Regional media have pointed to discussions on maritime security, the fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran and defence cooperation. Speculation around the visit has centered on a possible joint defence agreement. AFP cited a source close to the Saudi military as saying the three leaders are set to sign such a pact in Jeddah on Friday, while a Turkish intelligence source said the foundational terms had already been agreed. No government has publicly confirmed that outcome, leaving open the possibility of a less far-reaching joint statement. If the deal is finalized, it would likely build on the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025 and expand it into a trilateral framework with Turkiye. The trip comes against a broader security backdrop in the Gulf and nearby waterways. Saudi Arabia last week announced a multinational maritime security initiative to safeguard shipping through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden, with support from 14 countries including Turkiye and Pakistan. The visit also follows months of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz linked to the US and Israel's war on Iran, while Iran has launched missiles and drones at bases hosting American troops across the region and has also struck hotels and energy sites. Saudi Arabia is also facing heightened tensions with the Houthis in Yemen, whose forces have been targeting Saudi ships in the Red Sea. Erdogan's last visit to Riyadh in February produced a joint statement committing Ankara and Riyadh to deeper economic, energy and security cooperation, including stronger defence ties through multilateral platforms. The two sides also aligned on support for a ceasefire in Gaza, backed the internationally recognized government in Yemen and rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming support for Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.