Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan sign joint defence agreement

International Desk : Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan on Friday signed a trilateral defence agreement under which an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack on all, officials said.

The “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” was signed in Mecca during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The agreement brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan and Türkiye, which has NATO’s second-largest military and a rapidly expanding defence industry. Officials said the pact is intended to strengthen cooperation and enhance regional deterrence amid growing security challenges.

According to Turkish media reports, the agreement could pave the way for expanded joint military exercises, defence training, technology transfers and intelligence sharing among the three countries.

A Turkish official described the agreement as “purely defensive,” saying it is not directed against any specific country and could eventually be joined by other regional states. The official also said the pact would complement, rather than replace, existing bilateral and multilateral defence agreements.

Defence analyst Abdullah Khan described the agreement as a formalisation of decades of strategic cooperation, combining Pakistan’s military capabilities, Saudi Arabia’s economic and regional influence, and Türkiye’s defence technology.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day visit, accompanied by a delegation that includes Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. President Erdoğan arrived in Mecca on Friday.

The three leaders are also expected to discuss regional security, efforts to ease tensions involving Iran and the United States, as well as expanding trade, economic cooperation and broader strategic ties.