"Makkah Agreement" Lays Foundation for Joint Defense Among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan - Sarmad
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense” on Friday, a move that establishes a trilateral defense framework among the three countries. The agreement stipulates that any external armed attack on one of the signatory states will be considered an attack on all parties.
The signing of the agreement caps years of negotiations between Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad, aimed at creating a common ground to unify efforts in confronting security challenges and military threats, and to enhance defense cooperation among the three countries based on shared strategic interests and existing relations.
Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan will work to develop their joint defense capabilities, strengthen strategic deterrence, and raise readiness levels. They will also develop and integrate their defense capabilities to enable them to jointly address any threat targeting their security or territorial integrity.
The principle of joint defense stands out as one of the most prominent provisions of the agreement. Its terms stipulate that any external armed attack targeting Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or Pakistan constitutes an attack on all three countries collectively, within a framework aimed at enhancing defense capabilities and joint deterrence among the signatories.
At the same time, the new agreement does not nullify or replace any bilateral or multilateral agreements linking the three countries, nor does it supersede existing agreements and arrangements between them and other states and organizations. This means that existing defense commitments and partnerships for each country continue in parallel with the new trilateral framework.
The contents of the agreement emphasize that it represents a framework for institutional defense cooperation among the three countries, focusing on areas such as training, exchange of expertise, and defense industries. It is not directed against any specific parties.
The agreement places trilateral defense cooperation within the continuum of military and security relations that have linked Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan for decades. It is based on the principle of complementarity among the three parties, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s strategic and economic weight, Pakistan’s military expertise, and Turkey’s capabilities in the defense industry.
The establishment of this framework comes at a time when risks threatening regional and international peace and security are increasing. The three countries view enhanced defense cooperation and joint deterrence as part of the response to challenges that could affect the security and stability of countries in the region.
At the same time, the agreement stresses that expanding defense cooperation among Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad does not come at the expense of the three countries’ relations with their other partners, and therefore does not imply a change in their existing commitments or strategic partnerships.
