Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey sign joint defence agreement in Mecca

Published Aug 7, 12:38 PM UTC

On August 7, 2026, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed a landmark joint defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, following the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence. The pact stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three states will be regarded as an attack against all, strengthening collective deterrence. The agreement enhances defence cooperation among the three nations, which include the only nuclear-armed Muslim country (Pakistan), the home of Islam's holiest sites and a top oil exporter (Saudi Arabia), and a NATO member (Turkey). The signing comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia, including Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and heightened Saudi-Israeli and Turkish-Israeli tensions. Saudi Arabia recently proposed a Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition to protect vital sea lanes, which Pakistan supports. The agreement builds on a previous bilateral defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed in September 2025.