Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a new joint defence agreement aimed at strengthening security cooperation between the three countries.
The agreement was announced during a meeting involving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Mecca.
Under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three.
The agreement also calls for closer cooperation across several areas of defence. However, it does not specify exactly what military assistance each country would be required to provide if another member came under attack.
A Turkish official quoted by Reuters described the agreement as being “purely defensive in nature”.
The new pact comes as tensions across the Middle East remain high following the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The conflict has also disrupted maritime traffic around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Both waterways are important routes for global energy supplies and international trade.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defence agreement last year. The latest pact expands the security relationship to include Turkey. The three countries also bring different strategic strengths to the partnership. Saudi Arabia has significant financial resources and remains one of the world’s largest military equipment buyers. Turkey has a large military and a growing domestic defence industry. Pakistan, meanwhile, is a nuclear-armed state with extensive military experience.
The agreement reflects growing concerns among the three governments about the wider consequences of the conflict with Iran.
Following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, Iran and groups allied with Tehran launched attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The fighting has also affected shipping in the region. Iran has effectively restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has targeted shipping linked to Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
Pakistan has attempted to play a mediating role between Iran and the United States. It has also hosted negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire. Those efforts produced a temporary halt in fighting, but military operations later resumed.
Saudi Arabia has largely attempted to avoid becoming directly involved in the wider conflict. However, the Kingdom has faced attacks from Iranian-aligned groups in the region. Last month, Saudi Arabia carried out joint strikes with the United States against Iranian proxy militias in Iraq. Riyadh said the groups were responsible for launching drone attacks against the Kingdom.
The security situation has also deteriorated in Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis control large parts of north-western Yemen and have been fighting government forces supported by a Saudi-led coalition. Last month, the Houthis announced a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia. They also targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers operating in the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia responded with strikes against Houthi positions and the formation of a new naval coalition aimed at protecting shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The new defence pact therefore comes at a time when all three countries face growing regional security concerns. While the agreement does not provide detailed military obligations, its central message is clear.
