Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan sign the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement

Jeddah, August 7 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Friday, reflecting the three countries’ commitment to enhancing their collective security and achieving peace, stability, and security in the region and the world, with a view toward a secure and prosperous future. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the signing took place during the Mecca Joint Defense Summit held among the three countries on the sidelines of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, at the gracious invitation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The agency added that Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman signed the agreement on behalf of Saudi Arabia, while Erdogan signed on behalf of Turkey and Sharif on behalf of Pakistan. The agency noted that, according to a joint statement issued after the summit, the signing of the agreement was based on the deep-rooted historical ties among the three countries, the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and solidarity that unite them, and their shared strategic interests and close defense cooperation. The statement affirmed that the agreement reflects the three countries’ determination to strengthen their collective security and achieve peace, stability, and security in the region and the world, aiming for a secure and prosperous future. The agreement aims to enhance collective deterrence against any aggression and stipulates that any armed attack on any of the three countries shall be considered an attack on all of them. It also focuses on developing all aspects of defense cooperation among them. (End) F.N. / M.K.