Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on Friday, committing themselves to closer security cooperation amid heightened instability across the Middle East.
In a joint statement released by the Saudi Press Agency and Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the three governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collective security and promoting regional stability.
According to Islamabad, the agreement includes a mutual defence clause under which an attack on one member would be regarded as an attack on all, with the aim of reinforcing collective deterrence.
The agreement comes as Saudi Arabia reassesses its regional security strategy following the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea while increasing tensions across the Gulf.
Although discussions on the agreement reportedly began well before the current crisis, officials indicated that recent regional developments accelerated its conclusion.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Mecca ahead of the signing ceremony, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir also travelled to Saudi Arabia for the event.
