Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a mutual defense pact in Mecca on Friday. Under the terms of the agreement, any armed attack on one of the three nations will be treated as an attack on all. The landmark accord aims to strengthen collective deterrence and promote peace, security, and stability within the region.
The pact comes amid a regional war between the U.S. and Iran, which has disrupted shipping and drawn in surrounding nations. Saudi Arabia has faced drone and missile strikes blamed on Iran’s allies in Iraq and Yemen, including shelling by Iran-backed Houthis that recently injured 11 civilians in southern Saudi Arabia. These vulnerabilities have led Riyadh to diversify its security partnerships as the U.S. struggles to contain regional threats involving Iran and Israel.
The agreement follows nearly a year of negotiations and was formalized through meetings involving Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While Turkey describes the pact as an important step toward regional stability, the agreement does not specify whether the allies are bound to any particular military actions in each other's defense. Experts suggest the move will reshape the security architecture of the region.