Defense Pact Unites Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey for Regional Stability

A new defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey aims to bolster regional stability, according to Turkey’s Foreign Minister. He emphasized the pact is not aimed at Iran or any other nation.

The agreement, signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Mecca, pledges mutual defense. An attack on one member would be considered an attack on all three.

Known as the ‘Joint Defense Agreement of Mecca,’ this pact brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing defense sector. This collaboration comes at a time of increasing regional uncertainty and threats from conflicts in Iran.

In an interview with Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan remarked that the three nations do not view any specific country as an adversary unless it takes hostile actions against them.

We have no written agreements that define a common threat, Fidan stated. Any nation not attacking us is not a target.

Fidan compared the agreement’s mutual defense clause to NATO’s Article 5, which treats an attack on any member as an attack on all. When asked about the mechanism, Fidan explained a member must formally request assistance, and the response could include intelligence sharing, logistical support, or military deployment, depending on the threat level.

Fidan noted that the complexity of threats requires a nuanced approach. He also mentioned other countries have shown interest in the agreement, hinting that Egypt might join in the future as a ‘natural partner.’

As per the agreement, the foreign and defense ministers, along with military chiefs of the three countries, will hold regular meetings. A secretariat will be established in Saudi Arabia, Fidan explained.