Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a joint defense pact in Mecca, which stipulates that an armed attack on one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three.
The agreement, called the Mecca Mutual Defense Agreement, was announced after a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to a joint statement, the agreement aims to strengthen the three countries’ ability to prevent attacks and security threats, while also expanding defense cooperation. However, the agreement did not specify in detail the obligations the parties would assume in the event of an attack on one of the countries.
A Turkish official quoted by Reuters said the agreement was “full defense,” as the three countries strengthen their cooperation at a time when the security situation in the Middle East has changed dramatically.
Saudi Arabia sees the deal as an opportunity to bolster its security, especially as regional tensions and the US-Iran war have affected Gulf security and commercial shipping in key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a bilateral defence agreement last year.
Pakistan, for its part, could benefit from the deal in terms of security and strategic cooperation, amid a long-standing tension with India that escalated into full-scale war between the two countries in May 2025. Pakistan has also been playing a prominent role in regional diplomatic efforts, including efforts to mediate between the US and Iran.
Turkey also sees opportunities in the defence industry and military cooperation from the deal. Experts have said the deal could lead to cooperation between the three countries in arms production, military technology, defence procurement and military integration.
This agreement therefore marks a new step for the three countries to strengthen their security and defense cooperation, as there are currently security and geopolitical changes in the Middle East region that affect many countries in the region.