Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed a defence agreement on Friday that would treat an attack on one as an attack on all three, Turkish and Pakistani officials said, solidifying cooperation between the three regional powers at a time of growing security concerns.

The agreement was signed in the Saudi holy city of Mecca during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The agreement between the three Sunni Muslim-majority states brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan as well as Türkiye, which has Nato’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing defence industry.

It would increase cooperation and deterrence at a time of increased regional uncertainty and threats from the war in Iran.

“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry and Türkiye's presidential communications directorate said in identical statements.

“It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states,” the statements said, adding that the agreement was called the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement”.

Earlier, Turkish media reports said it is likely to allow joint military exercises and training, technology transfers and the sharing of intelligence.

Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure and oil facilities have come under attack as part of the war in Iran, has been looking to diversify its defence partnerships.

In September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact that also defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both.

The agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Türkiye and Israel over Gaza and other regional conflicts, including the war in Iran and Lebanon.

A Turkish government official described the agreement as “purely defensive in nature,” saying the sides have pledged mutual support only for defence.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the issue publicly, insisted that the deal is “not against any specific actor” and was open for other regional countries to join.

The agreement does not abrogate or replace any bilateral or multilateral agreements between these states or with other states and organisations, the official added. (AP)


Edited by Edmond Fong