Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a defense agreement: "Strengthens collective deterrence"
Against the backdrop of growing tension in the Middle East, and in the shadow of fears of a confrontation between Israel and Turkey, three regional powers have signed a tripartite agreement that defines any attack on one of them as an attack against all.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a defense agreement this Friday in Mecca that deepens cooperation between the three regional powers and stipulates that any attack on one of them will be considered an attack on all three countries.
"The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that any armed attack against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all of them," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated. The agreement was signed during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Dubbed the "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement," the pact is the result of nearly a year of negotiations. A Turkish official emphasized to Reuters that this is a defensive agreement not directed against any specific country, and that it does not replace existing agreements, including Turkey's commitments as a member of NATO. According to the official, the agreement is open to the future accession of other countries in the region.
The signing comes as the three nations seek to strengthen their ability to act independently in the face of Middle Eastern upheavals. Reuters noted that alongside growing concerns regarding Iran and its proxies, the three countries are also worried about Israel's military policy in the region, occurring in parallel with doubts regarding the ability of the United States to curb escalation.
The agreement provides for the improvement of security cooperation between the three countries: oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and Turkey, which holds the second-largest army in NATO and a rapidly growing defense industry. Turkish media outlets suggest the agreement will likely lead to joint military exercises and the sharing of intelligence and technological information.
Deep military ties already exist between the nations. Pakistan has provided training and technical assistance to the Saudi army for decades, and in recent months has stationed approximately 8,000 soldiers in the kingdom, alongside fighter jets, drones, and air defense systems. Turkey and Pakistan have also expanded security cooperation, including the transfer of warships and training aircraft. Security ties between Ankara and Riyadh were significantly bolstered in 2023 with a major deal for Turkish-made drones.
Experts suggest that combining the defense industries of Turkey and Pakistan with the enormous financial resources of Saudi Arabia could turn the new framework into a significant military alliance. The Associated Press noted that Turkey's participation comes against the backdrop of growing tensions between Ankara and Israel regarding the Gaza Strip and other regional conflicts.
