ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a landmark trilateral security pact aimed at strengthening collective defence, expanding military cooperation and promoting peace and stability across the region, the Foreign Office announced.
The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence at Al-Safa Palace under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the summit, where they reviewed longstanding bilateral relations, discussed regional and international developments and formalised the historic defence accord.
According to the Foreign Office, the agreement is founded on the historical ties, Islamic solidarity and longstanding defence cooperation shared by the three countries.
The pact establishes a collective defence framework under which an armed attack against any one of the three member states will be regarded as an attack against all, reinforcing a shared commitment to mutual security and strategic cooperation.
It also provides for enhanced collaboration across all areas of defence, reflecting the three nations’ resolve to strengthen regional peace, security and stability while expanding military coordination.
Earlier, the Foreign Office described Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia as another milestone in the longstanding relationship between Islamabad and Riyadh, built on mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood. It said the visit carried added significance amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and would further deepen bilateral cooperation, regional coordination and collaboration at multilateral forums.
The signing of the agreement confirms earlier reports that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye were preparing to formalise a trilateral defence alliance following nearly a year of negotiations.
The pact comes at a time of growing regional instability following recent tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with the three countries seeking closer strategic coordination to address evolving security challenges.
Turkiye possesses NATO’s second-largest military force, Saudi Arabia remains the Arab world’s leading military and economic power, while Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority country.
The agreement builds upon decades of defence cooperation among the three nations. Pakistan has long provided military training and technical assistance to Saudi Arabia, while Pakistan and Turkiye have significantly expanded collaboration in naval, aerospace and defence-industrial projects. Saudi Arabia also signed its largest-ever Turkish defence procurement agreement in 2023 for the acquisition of armed drones.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is being viewed as one of the most significant trilateral security initiatives involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in recent years, signalling closer strategic cooperation as regional powers respond to an increasingly complex geopolitical and security environment.
