Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have formalized a new joint defence agreement, declaring that any armed attack against one of the three nations will be treated as an attack against all of them. The pact was signed in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during an official meeting hosted by the Kingdom.
According to a joint statement, the agreement is rooted in the nations' longstanding brotherhood, deep historical ties, shared strategic interests, and established defence cooperation. The leaders emphasized that the pact serves to strengthen collective deterrence against potential aggression while expanding cooperation across all defence sectors. The initiative is intended to enhance regional security, promote long-term stability, and foster a more prosperous future for the three countries.
Pakistan's foreign ministry confirmed the terms of the agreement, reiterating that it mandates a collective response to any armed aggression. Earlier on Friday, President Erdogan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Safa Palace to review bilateral and trilateral relations, alongside discussions on other matters of mutual interest. The Turkish delegation at the meeting included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin, Ambassador to Riyadh Emrullah Isler, and Presidential Chief of Staff Hasan Dogan.
The signing of this agreement occurs against a backdrop of rising regional tensions following the outbreak of the US war on Iran on February 28. Saudi Arabia has faced significant military pressure, enduring one of the largest sustained drone and missile campaigns in its modern history. Saudi authorities report that by April 7, Iran had launched 1,131 drones and 140 ballistic and cruise missiles, targeting energy infrastructure, military bases, civilian sites, and foreign embassies. Furthermore, Iran-aligned Houthi forces have escalated attacks on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. This volatile security environment has accelerated efforts toward regional defence integration, following a separate bilateral defence pact signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in 2025.
