Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with Turkey’s foreign minister stating the pact is not directed against Iran or any other nation and aims to enhance regional stability.
The accord, dubbed the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement,” was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday. The agreement stipulates that an attack on any one of the three signatory nations will be considered an attack on all of them.
This pact unites Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, with Pakistan, a nuclear power, and Turkey, which possesses the second-largest army in NATO and a growing defense industry. The agreement is being established amid increased regional uncertainty and threats stemming from conflicts in the area.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency that the three countries do not perceive any specific nation as an adversary unless that nation initiates hostile actions. "We don’t have anything written down — nothing we’ve signed — that defines a common threat," Fidan stated. "Any country that does not attack us is not a target for us."
Fidan described the mutual defense clause as being "technically the same" as NATO's Article 5, which dictates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Regarding the operational mechanism of the agreement, Fidan explained that a member nation would need to formally request assistance. The support from the other two countries could encompass intelligence sharing, logistical aid, or the deployment of military units, contingent on the nature of the threat. "These are multi‑layered matters that vary according to the scale of the threat," he said.
Fidan also mentioned that other countries have expressed interest in joining the agreement, though he did not name them. He indicated that Egypt, which he described as a "natural partner," is expected to join "at the next stage."
The agreement mandates regular meetings of the foreign and defense ministers, along with their respective military chiefs, through a committee. A secretariat for the pact will be established in Saudi Arabia.