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| Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug 7, 2026. — Saudi Press Agency via Reuters |
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and
Türkiye have signed a landmark joint defence agreement in Makkah,
strengthening military cooperation and establishing a collective security
commitment among the three countries.
Under the Makkah Joint Defence
Agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three states will be
regarded as an attack against all three. The agreement is aimed at improving
collective deterrence, expanding defence cooperation and promoting regional
peace and stability.
The agreement was signed during
the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence at Al-Safa Palace by
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Mohammad bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The announcement was made through
a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office and Saudi Arabia’s
official press agency.
What Does the Makkah Joint
Defence Agreement Mean?
The agreement establishes a
stronger framework for security cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and
Türkiye.
According to the joint statement,
the central principle of the pact is collective defence: an armed attack
against one member will be considered an attack against all three.
The agreement also calls for
greater cooperation across different areas of defence. Its stated objective is
to strengthen deterrence against aggression while supporting peace, security
and stability in the region and beyond.
The pact builds on the countries’
existing strategic relationships, historical ties and longstanding defence
cooperation.
Why the Agreement Was Signed
in Makkah
The signing of the agreement in
Makkah gives the development significant symbolic importance.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and
Türkiye have maintained close political, economic and defence relationships for
years. The three countries are also connected through historical ties, Islamic
solidarity and shared strategic interests.
The agreement brings together
three countries with significant military and strategic capabilities. Pakistan
is a nuclear-armed state with an established defence industry, Türkiye has a
major defence sector and NATO membership, while Saudi Arabia has substantial
financial and technological resources.
Together, the countries can
potentially expand cooperation in defence technology, training, military
capabilities and strategic coordination.
Shehbaz Sharif Calls Pact a
“Shield of Peace”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
described the agreement as a historic pact, saying that Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia and Türkiye were united by faith, friendship and a shared commitment to
peace and security.
He said the agreement could serve
as a “shield of peace” for future generations and expressed hope that stronger
cooperation would contribute to prosperity in the three countries and the wider
Muslim world.
The prime minister also
acknowledged the efforts of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff
Field Marshal Asim Munir in advancing the agreement.
Pakistan Calls the Defence
Deal a Historic Development
Pakistan’s Information Minister
Attaullah Tarar described the agreement as a historic moment for the country.
He said the pact demonstrated
growing recognition of Pakistan’s defence capabilities and could take relations
between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to a new level.
Tarar also emphasised that the
agreement was designed around defence and deterrence rather than aggression. He
credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for helping
strengthen cooperation among the three countries.
Saudi Arabia Says Agreement Is
Not a Military Bloc
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin
Farhan said the agreement reflected the depth of the strategic and fraternal
relationship between the three countries.
He described the pact as an
important milestone in defence cooperation and said it represented a shared
effort to address challenges affecting regional security and stability.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Public
Diplomacy Rayed Krimly separately stressed that the agreement was not intended
to create a military axis or sectarian bloc.
He also said the pact was not
connected to nuclear ambitions or an arms race and did not threaten the
security of other countries in the region. According to the Saudi official, the
agreement would also not replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements
involving the three countries.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and
Türkiye Bring Different Strengths
The new agreement combines the
different defence capabilities and resources of its three members.
Pakistan and Türkiye have
developed significant defence industries, while Saudi Arabia has considerable
financial resources and technological investment capacity.
Analyst Mansoor Ahmed of the
Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre said the
three countries could complement one another through their respective defence
strengths.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had
already taken a major step toward closer security cooperation through their Strategic
Mutual Defence Agreement, signed in Riyadh in September. That agreement
included a similar commitment to treat an attack against either country as an
act of aggression against both.
Türkiye’s Role in Expanding
Defence Cooperation
Türkiye’s involvement adds
another dimension to the emerging security partnership.
Before the latest agreement,
Ankara had reportedly shown interest in joining a broader mutual defence
framework involving Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Turkish officials had supported
the idea of an inclusive platform capable of promoting wider cooperation and
regional stability.
Pakistan and Türkiye already have
longstanding defence ties, including military training and exchanges involving
defence platforms. Saudi Arabia has also expanded its defence relationship with
Türkiye, including a major agreement involving Turkish drones.
Agreement Comes Amid Rising
Regional Tensions
The new defence pact comes during
a period of heightened security tensions across the Middle East and Gulf
region.
The source material notes that
the agreement was signed against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran and
growing concerns over regional security.
Pakistan has sought to support
diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict, while Türkiye has also been
involved in diplomatic initiatives related to the Gaza conflict.
The three countries, alongside
Egypt, have participated in wider efforts focused on regional stability and
containing the effects of escalating tensions.
Security concerns have also
increased around the Red Sea and Gulf shipping routes. The source reports
renewed tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, including threats to
maritime access and shipping.
Saudi Arabia has subsequently
unveiled plans for a multinational maritime defence coalition aimed at
protecting shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea, with Pakistan among the
countries expressing support.
Defence Leaders Attend the
Makkah Signing
Several senior Pakistani
officials attended the signing ceremony, including Field Marshal Asim Munir,
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister
Khawaja Asif.
The defence and foreign ministers
of Saudi Arabia and Türkiye were also present.
Their participation highlighted
the importance placed on the agreement by the three governments and their
defence establishments.
Shehbaz Sharif and Erdogan
Hold Meetings With Saudi Crown Prince
Before the signing ceremony,
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held separate meetings with Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Al-Safa
Palace.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister
Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attended
the meeting with the Pakistani prime minister.
Erdogan also held a separate
meeting with the Saudi crown prince during his visit.
Shehbaz Sharif had arrived in
Saudi Arabia for a three-day visit, while Erdogan travelled to the kingdom for
a one-day visit.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
Strengthen Longstanding Defence Ties
The latest agreement builds on
decades of defence cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan has provided training
and technical assistance to Saudi forces over many years. Pakistan and Türkiye
have also maintained military cooperation through training and defence
exchanges.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has
increased its defence engagement with Türkiye, including an agreement to
acquire Turkish drones.
Saudi Arabia also received
Pakistani military personnel and fighter aircraft earlier in the year as part
of efforts to strengthen the kingdom’s security capabilities.
What the New Defence Pact
Could Mean for the Region
The Makkah Joint Defence
Agreement represents a significant expansion of security cooperation between
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Its collective-defence provision
sends a clear message that the three countries intend to coordinate more
closely in response to potential military threats.
At the same time, Saudi officials
have emphasised that the agreement is intended to strengthen security and
deterrence rather than create a new military bloc or provoke confrontation.
The long-term impact of the
agreement will depend on how the three countries implement its
defence-cooperation commitments and coordinate their policies in response to
future regional security challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed
the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
- An armed attack against one member is to be treated
as an attack against all three.
- The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and
defence cooperation.
- Saudi Arabia says the agreement is not intended to
establish a military or sectarian bloc.
- The agreement builds on existing defence ties between
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
- The pact comes amid heightened security tensions
across the Middle East and Gulf region.
- Senior political and military officials from all
three countries attended the signing in Makkah.
Conclusion
The signing of the Pakistan-Saudi
Arabia-Türkiye joint defence agreement marks a new stage in the security
relationship among the three countries.
By establishing a
collective-defence commitment and expanding cooperation across defence sectors,
the Makkah agreement creates a broader framework for strategic coordination.
Its significance extends beyond the signing ceremony itself. As regional security challenges continue to evolve, the partnership between Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara could become an increasingly important element of their efforts to protect national interests, strengthen deterrence and support regional stability.