Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Sign Defense Pact
News Desk
Makka: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have agreed to deepen their strategic and defense cooperation under a new trilateral pact that commits the three countries to treating an armed attack against any one of them as an attack against all three.
The agreement, signed at Qasr al-Safa in Mecca, brings together Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in what officials describe as a framework aimed at strengthening collective security and coordination.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the agreement, named the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, is designed to enhance defense cooperation, military coordination and a shared security framework among the three countries.
Under the arrangement, an attack against Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Turkey would be regarded as an attack against all three nations, according to the Foreign Office.
Turkish officials, cited by Reuters, said the agreement is focused specifically on defense matters and does not target any particular country, state or organization. They added that other countries in the region could potentially join the framework.
The officials also clarified that the new pact does not replace or terminate existing bilateral or multilateral defense agreements involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Turkey, including arrangements with other states and international organizations.
The agreement comes amid heightened security concerns and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions across the Middle East, giving the trilateral partnership added regional significance.
Ahead of the signing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir performed Umrah in Mecca before meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
During their meeting, the leaders discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, regional peace and other issues of mutual interest. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif were also part of the Pakistani delegation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation on Thursday at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince. The delegation was received by the Deputy Governor of Mecca.
According to AFP, Saudi military sources said discussions on the defense agreement had been underway for some time, but developments in the region accelerated the process.
The Pakistani Foreign Office has described the Saudi visit as part of Islamabad’s broader diplomatic efforts to promote peace, strengthen regional cooperation and encourage a coordinated approach to security challenges.
Pakistan has also been pursuing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East and facilitating peaceful resolution of ongoing disputes.
The Foreign Office has expressed hope that progress on a consensus framework concerning the Strait of Hormuz could also help create conditions for renewed dialogue between Iran and the United States.
