Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign defence pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on Friday signed a joint defence pact in the Holy City of Makkah that empowers member states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, signed the pact after the “Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence” was held at the Al Safa Palace.

In a joint statement published by the official Saudi press agency and Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the three countries announced the signing of the “Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence.”

They declared a “shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.”

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the pact meant an attack on any member would be regarded as an attack on all, adding it was “intended to strengthen collective deterrence.”

Ankara nonetheless said later that the agreement was “not aimed at any particular country,” according to a post on X by the presidency’s communications director.

Riyadh said “the agreement does not represent an effort to establish a military axis or a sectarian bloc.”

“Nor is it linked to any nuclear ambitions or arms race, rather it is focused on building sustainable capabilities,” Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said on X. The “does not constitute a threat to the security of any country in the region,” he added.

The agreement reflects the three countries’ “shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future,” the statement said.

“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 statement said that the pact also “provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation” among the three countries.

The agreement is “guided by the longstanding historical ties among the three states, based on the enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and building upon their shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation.”

The statement said that during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, the “distinguished relations” between the three countries were reviewed, “along with a number of issues of mutual interest.” Prince Mohammed Bin Salman received PM Shahbaz and President Erdogan at the Al Safa Palace.

The prime minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit on Thursday, while the Turkish president undertook a one-day visit on Friday.

Later during the day, PM Shahbaz described the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as a “historic pact,” saying the three countries were united by faith, friendship and a shared commitment to peace and security.

In a post on X, the prime minister said he was honoured to sign the agreement alongside the Saudi crown prince and the Turkish president.

He said the pact would serve as a “shield of peace” for generations and expressed hope that it would bring prosperity to the three countries and the wider Muslim world. Shahbaz also appreciated Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts and dedication towards the agreement.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, while talking to a private TV channel, described the signing of the joint defence agreement between the three states as a “historic day” for Pakistan, saying the pact reflected growing recognition of the country’s defence capabilities and strengthened ties among the three nations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment. A spokesperson for India’s Foreign Ministry said the pact was a development that the country was closely following. Iran did not immediately comment.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had signed the “Strategic Defence Agreement” in Riyadh last September, pledging that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi ‌met Saudi general intelligence chief ​Khalid Al Humaidan on Friday ‌to discuss coordination ‌over regional security developments, the prime minister’s ‌office said.