- Armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all of them, underscoring their commitment to collective defense.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have signed a landmark joint defense agreement to strengthen military cooperation and enhance regional security amid escalating tensions and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi state media on Friday, the “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement” states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all of them, underscoring their commitment to collective defense.
The three countries said the agreement reflects their shared determination to reinforce collective security while promoting peace, stability and prosperity across the region and beyond.
The pact was signed during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was accompanied by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and performed Umrah in Makkah.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also travelled to the Kingdom on Friday for talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The agreement comes at a time of heightened regional instability following months of conflict involving Iran, as well as attacks by Tehran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq.
The security situation has raised concerns over Saudi Arabia’s energy exports, economic development plans and the effectiveness of its traditional security arrangements.
While Pakistan and Türkiye have not faced major direct attacks, both countries have expressed concern over regional instability and its impact on their security and economies.
The defense pact follows nearly a year of negotiations and builds on longstanding military cooperation among the three nations.
Pakistan has provided military training and technical assistance to Saudi Arabia for decades, while Türkiye and Pakistan have expanded defense cooperation through naval projects, aircraft training and military technology.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia signed its largest-ever Turkish defense deal by purchasing Turkish-made drones.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said the agreement is purely defensive and is not directed against any country.
In a statement posted on X, he stressed that the pact does not seek to create a military alliance or sectarian bloc, nor is it linked to nuclear ambitions or an arms race. Instead, he said, it aims to develop sustainable and self-reliant defense capabilities.
Iran, however, reacted critically to the agreement. Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei argued that security cannot be achieved through defense pacts alone and urged Saudi Arabia to reconsider its regional policies rather than relying on external security arrangements.
Analysts say the agreement could reshape regional security cooperation by bringing together three influential Muslim-majority nations with complementary strengths.
Pakistan contributes its experienced military and strategic capabilities, Türkiye offers advanced defense technology and drone systems, while Saudi Arabia brings significant economic resources.
Experts also believe the agreement could strengthen cooperation beyond defense, paving the way for closer economic, political and technological partnerships among the three countries while supporting broader efforts to enhance regional stability.
