Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Sign Joint Defence Agreement Amid Middle East Turmoil

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca, aiming to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression. The 'Mecca Joint Defence Agreement' stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack on all, according to a joint statement.

The agreement builds on longstanding bilateral military ties among the three countries and follows nearly a year of negotiations. Turkey brings its strong defence industry to the table, while Saudi Arabia could contribute with technological spending. However, the accord is unlikely to include a nuclear component, as Pakistan's atomic deterrent is focused on what it sees as the threat from India.

The agreement comes at a time of heightened uncertainty in the Middle East, where Iran and its allies have been firing on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. The conflict has upended the security of Riyadh's Gulf allies and shut down most shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in Mecca to seal the agreement. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, said the trilateral framework could strengthen the three countries' collective diplomatic and defense weight while contributing to the emergence of a more regionally driven security architecture.