In a highly symbolic move, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey were pictured performing Friday prayers together this week in the holy city of Mecca.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud were joined at the holiest site in Islam by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
For years, Ankara and Riyadh have been moving closer together and mending previously turbulent relations.
That process was further solidified in recent days after Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a historic joint defence agreement.
The agreement brings the three Muslim powers under a single security umbrella for the first time as part of a trilateral framework.
