ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s foreign minister said Sunday a new defense agreement his country signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey was not directed against any country and remained open to other nations in the region, reports BritPanorama.
The landmark Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed on Friday by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the three countries seek to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the agreement was “purely defensive in nature,” and that other countries could join if they were willing to uphold its principles and resolve differences through peaceful means. He emphasized that the deal reflects a shared desire to strengthen strategic security cooperation.
His post on X followed remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who similarly declared that the agreement was not aimed at Iran or any other country. The agreement stipulates that “any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, according to statements released by the three parties.
Dar expressed that Pakistan would continue to work with other countries in the region towards lasting peace and stability. He clarified that the Makkah Accord does not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries or with other organizations.
Following the agreement’s announcement, public celebrations occurred overnight, with landmarks in Islamabad and Saudi cities illuminated in the colors of the Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani flags.
The three countries bring significant but differing capabilities to the arrangement. Pakistan boasts extensive military experience and is the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed country; Saudi Arabia contributes substantial economic resources and regional influence; and NATO member Turkey has a large military alongside an increasingly sophisticated domestic defense industry.
In Islamabad, defense analysts cautioned against equating the agreement with NATO, despite its collective-defense provision. Abdullah Khan, an Islamabad-based defense analyst, noted that although the agreement was signed during heightened regional tensions, it should not be interpreted as being directed against Iran or another state.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close military ties for decades, signing a separate mutual-defense agreement in September 2025. Concurrently, Pakistan and Turkey have expanded military and defense-industrial cooperation in recent years.
