Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah on Friday amid rising tensions in West Asia. Under the agreement, known as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three.
The agreement was signed by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting was held at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.
According to a joint statement, the agreement provides for strengthening defence cooperation between the three countries across various areas. It aims to enhance collective security capabilities against any aggressive action and strengthen regional stability.
The key provision of the agreement states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three. The agreement therefore establishes a deeper framework for security cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
The agreement has also prompted discussion about regional security. Several reports and analyses have informally referred to it as an “Islamic NATO”, although that is not its official name. The stated purpose of the agreement is to increase defence cooperation among the three countries and strengthen their collective security arrangements.
The agreement comes as security conditions in West Asia remain complex. Ongoing conflicts in the region have also affected important maritime routes such as the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. In these circumstances, collective security and strategic coordination have gained importance for countries in the Gulf and surrounding region.
The Makkah agreement has been linked in the joint statement to a shared commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond. It also builds on the political, economic, religious and defence relations between the three countries.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had previously signed an important defence agreement. In September 2025, the two countries signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. That agreement also provided that an attack on either country would be considered an aggressive action against both countries.
The two countries subsequently focused on expanding defence cooperation. Joint training, military cooperation and Pakistan’s role in areas related to Saudi Arabia’s security needs have been part of the relationship.
The addition of Turkiye to the trilateral agreement expands the scope of strategic cooperation among the three countries.
During the meeting in Makkah, the leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional and international issues. Pakistan’s delegation included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also met with the Saudi leadership.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the significance of the visit is not limited to the current regional crisis. It also aims to strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation and improve coordination among the three countries on regional and international issues.
