Key facts
- Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca.
- The agreement stipulates that an attack on one signatory will be considered an attack on all.
- The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and promote regional peace and stability.
- A Turkish official stated the agreement is purely defensive and not aimed at any specific country.
- The deal follows nearly a year of negotiations and builds on existing military cooperation.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey have formalized a joint defense agreement in Mecca, a move aimed at bolstering collective security amid escalating regional tensions. The pact, signed on Friday, establishes a mutual defense clause, treating an attack on any signatory as an attack on all. This trilateral agreement comes as the three Sunni Muslim U.S. allies express alarm over a widening regional conflict, particularly concerning the aggressive military stances of Israel and Iran.
The agreement, described as purely defensive and open to other regional countries, seeks to strengthen deterrence and promote peace and stability. While specific commitments were not detailed, a Turkish official emphasized its defensive nature and that it does not target any specific actor or supersede existing arrangements. The pact is seen as a significant political statement by three influential Muslim nations coordinating on security matters during a period of heightened uncertainty.
Turkey possesses NATO's second-largest military, Saudi Arabia is a major Gulf power and oil exporter, and Pakistan is a nuclear-armed nation. The leaders met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose country has faced repeated attacks from Iran and its allies. The conflict has disrupted regional security and vital shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz. This defense pact follows nearly a year of negotiations and builds upon long-standing bilateral military ties, with Pakistan and Turkey contributing defense industries and Saudi Arabia potentially offering technological investment. However, a nuclear component is unlikely, as Pakistan's atomic deterrent is focused on India.
An Iranian lawmaker, Ebrahim Rezaei, criticized the agreement, stating that paper agreements with Turkey and Pakistan would not bring security to Saudi Arabia, and that Riyadh should focus on changing its policies rather than seeking security from others.