It states that the pact is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against all three.
The agreement also provides for expanding cooperation across all areas of defence and reflects the three nations’ commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.
Earlier, the Foreign Office had described the prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia as another milestone in the longstanding Pakistan-Saudi relationship built on mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood. It said the visit added significance amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and would further strengthen bilateral cooperation, regional coordination and collaboration in multilateral forums.ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have signed the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement”, Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Friday announced describing it as a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening collective security, enhancing defence cooperation and promoting peace and stability across the region.
The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, held at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Foreign Office said.
The summit brought together Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Saudi crown prince, who reviewed the longstanding relations among the three countries and discussed issues of mutual interest before signing the accord.
According to the official statement, the agreement is rooted in the historical ties, Islamic solidarity and longstanding defence cooperation shared by the three countries.
The signing of the agreement confirms what Reuters had earlier reported, citing regional sources and a Turkish official, that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey were expected to formalise a trilateral defence pact in Makkah on Friday.
Reuters had reported that the agreement follows nearly a year of negotiations and comes at a time of heightened regional instability following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The news agency said the three countries share growing concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. Turkey has NATO’s second-largest military, Saudi Arabia is the Arab world’s leading military and economic power, while Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country.
According to Reuters, the pact builds on decades of military cooperation among the three nations. Pakistan has long provided military training and technical assistance to Saudi Arabia, while Turkey and Pakistan have expanded defence collaboration through naval, aerospace and defence-industrial projects. Saudi Arabia also signed its largest-ever Turkish defence procurement deal in 2023 for the purchase of armed drones.
The agreement marks one of the most significant trilateral security initiatives involving the three countries in recent years and comes as regional powers seek closer cooperation amid evolving geopolitical and security challenges in the Middle East.
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