Pakistan Strengthens Ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkey Through New Defense Agreement

Pakistan’s foreign minister announced on Sunday that a newly signed defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey does not target any specific country. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, established on Friday, involves Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This agreement aims to enhance security cooperation in light of increasing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the agreement is “purely defensive in nature” and open to other nations willing to adhere to its principles and pursue peaceful conflict resolution. The agreement, he mentioned, shows a collective desire to boost strategic security cooperation. His comments, shared on X, echoed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s sentiments that the agreement is not intended as a threat to Iran or any other country.

The agreement includes a provision that considers an armed attack on one of the three countries as an attack on all three, aligned with the principle of self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. Dar emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to working towards lasting peace and stability in the region.

Makkah Accord does not override or replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between the countries or with other nations or organizations.

Public celebrations marked the agreement’s announcement, with landmarks in Islamabad and Saudi cities lighting up in the national colors of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.

The agreement unites countries with various capabilities. Pakistan offers significant military experience and is the sole nuclear-armed nation in the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia contributes with its vast economic power and regional sway, while Turkey, a NATO member, boasts a large military and advanced defense industry.

Defense analysts in Islamabad stressed that the agreement should not be viewed as akin to NATO, despite the collective defense clause. Abdullah Khan, a defense analyst, pointed out that while the agreement emerged in a tense regional climate, it should not be seen as an adversarial move against Iran or others.

For years, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained strong military relations, cemented by a separate mutual defense agreement signed in September 2025. Similarly, Pakistan’s military and defense ties with Turkey have grown stronger recently.

In Karachi, billboards displayed images of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.