MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have signed a new joint defense agreement that establishes a collective security framework between the three countries, with an armed attack against one to be treated as an attack against all.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed Friday by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during a trilateral summit at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.
The agreement marks a significant expansion of defense cooperation among the three countries and sets out a framework for closer coordination in response to security threats.
What the agreement means
Under the pact, an armed attack against Saudi Arabia, Türkiye or Pakistan will be regarded as an attack against all three countries.
The agreement also calls for broader cooperation across the defense sector, with the countries seeking to strengthen their ability to deter potential aggression and coordinate on shared security interests.
The three governments said the pact is intended to contribute to security, peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The agreement builds on longstanding political, cultural and strategic ties between the three countries, including their shared Islamic heritage and existing defense relationships.
Leaders meet in Makkah
Erdoğan and Sharif traveled to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and were received by the Saudi crown prince at the Royal Court in Makkah.
During the summit, the leaders reviewed relations between their countries and discussed issues of mutual interest, according to a joint statement.
The meeting brought together three countries with established military and strategic links. Saudi Arabia is a major Gulf power, while Türkiye is a leading NATO member and Pakistan maintains one of the region’s largest armed forces.
The new agreement provides a formal framework for developing those defense links further.
