MECCA — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a trilateral defense agreement on Friday committing the three countries to closer military cooperation and collective deterrence, in a move their leaders said was aimed at strengthening regional security amid escalating instability across the Middle East.
The agreement, formally titled the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, was signed in the Saudi holy city by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a high-level summit, according to official announcements. The pact states that an armed attack against one member will be regarded as an attack against all three, while expanding cooperation in defense planning, military coordination, intelligence sharing and defense industries.
Saudi officials said the agreement was defensive in nature and was not directed against any specific country. They added that the framework was intended to reinforce regional stability, improve joint preparedness and deepen long-standing security ties among the three nations.
The signing comes as tensions remain elevated across the region following months of conflict involving Iran and Iranian-aligned groups. Reuters reported earlier this week that Saudi authorities expected possible attacks by Iranian-backed forces against the kingdom's infrastructure, citing a senior Saudi official familiar with intelligence assessments.
Turkey, a NATO member with one of the alliance's largest armed forces, and Pakistan, the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed state, have maintained extensive defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia in recent years through military exercises, training programs and defense industry partnerships. The new accord broadens those arrangements into a trilateral framework.
Iran criticized the agreement, saying it would not contribute to regional security, according to state media cited by multiple news organizations. Saudi officials rejected suggestions that the pact represented a military bloc or sectarian alliance, emphasizing that it remained open to broader regional cooperation and was intended to support collective security rather than confrontation.
Analysts said the accord reflects growing efforts by regional powers to expand security cooperation as governments confront cross-border threats and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The agreement builds on a bilateral strategic mutual defense treaty signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in 2025 and follows months of discussions over Turkey's participation in a broader security arrangement.
The three governments said implementation would proceed through joint military committees and defense coordination mechanisms, with additional details expected to be developed in subsequent meetings.
