ISTANBUL — A new defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is not directed against Iran or any other specific country, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, as the three countries seek closer security cooperation amid continuing regional tensions.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on Friday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, commits the three countries to treating an armed attack against any one of them as an attack against all three, according to the agreement and Turkish officials.
Fidan said on Saturday that the pact did not identify a particular adversary and was intended to strengthen collective security rather than establish an alliance against a named country. He said the agreement would provide for different forms of assistance depending on the circumstances, potentially including intelligence sharing and military support.
The agreement comes as the Middle East faces heightened security concerns following months of conflict involving Iran and other regional actors. Its announcement has prompted speculation about whether the arrangement could serve as a deterrent against Tehran, although the three governments have not identified Iran as a target.
Fidan said the pact should be viewed as part of a broader effort to develop regional security mechanisms. In an interview earlier this year, he said Türkiye wanted regional security arrangements to be inclusive and not create another divisive bloc.
The three countries also agreed to establish mechanisms for regular consultations among their foreign and defence officials, with a permanent secretariat to be based in Saudi Arabia, according to details reported following the signing.
The agreement builds on growing cooperation among Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which have held consultations on regional security alongside Egypt. In June, the four countries reaffirmed their commitment to consultation and coordination in support of peace, security and stability in the Middle East and wider region.
Fidan also indicated that the defence arrangement could eventually be expanded, with Egypt among countries that could participate in the future, according to reports of his remarks.
The pact remains focused on collective defence and regional security, while its signatories have publicly rejected framing it as an agreement directed against any particular state.
