Manama: Bahrain congratulated Pakistan over the trilateral defense pact with Trkiye and Saudi Arabia, a statement from Islamabad's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The remarks came during a phone call between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Al Zayani also expressed his intention to visit Pakistan in the near future. During the conversation, Dar expressed Pakistan's commitment to promoting dialogue and diplomacy in order to achieve peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The defense pact, signed on Friday in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, considers an armed attack against any of the three countries as an attack against all. It aims to strengthen collective deterrence and expand defense cooperation among the countries.

The agreement is the result of years of consultations among Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad, focusing on enhancing defense cooperation and coordinating responses to shared security challenges based on their strategic interests. This development comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following the conflict between Iran and the US, raising concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to preserve freedom of navigation.