Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan sign Mekka Defense Pact

Published Aug 7, 01:51 PM UTC

On August 7, 2026, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the 'Mekka Defense Pact' in Mecca, a mutual defense agreement stating that an armed attack on one member is an attack on all. The pact comes amid rising Gulf tensions, following a recent Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia and broader regional instability involving Iran and its allies. While the agreement includes technology transfers from Turkey, intelligence sharing, and Saudi investment in Turkey's defense industry, Pakistani security sources clarified it is not aimed at deterring Iran. Instead, it is designed to provide security if the US withdraws from the region or if Saudi Arabia feels threatened by Israeli escalations. No Turkish troop deployment to Saudi Arabia is planned. The pact builds on existing bilateral defense ties, including a prior Saudi-Pakistan agreement and Turkish bases in Qatar.

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