Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have formalized a joint defense agreement, a move that comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. The pact, signed in Mecca, establishes a mutual defense clause, with Pakistan's foreign ministry stating that an attack on any of the three nations "shall be regarded as an attack against them all."
The agreement was announced following a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This development occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran, which has increasingly drawn Saudi Arabia into regional instability and disrupted vital shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
This agreement builds upon existing security cooperation between the countries. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had previously announced a joint defense pact last year, indicating a growing alignment in their strategic interests. The strengthened ties aim to enhance security cooperation as the region navigates escalating conflicts and their economic repercussions.