Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have forged a new defense alliance, under which an attack on any one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all.
The agreement was finalized on Friday during a meeting of the heads of state in Mecca. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the treaty in the Saudi city.
This coalition, described as the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement,” promises mutual support among the three Sunni states, although the extent of each country’s specific obligations remains undefined. A Turkish government representative clarified that the pact has a purely defensive nature.
The formation of the alliance follows increasing regional tensions. The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran has pulled Saudi Arabia directly into the dispute, significantly impacting shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Riyadh and Islamabad had previously established a bilateral defense agreement the prior year.
The recent flare-up of hostilities began after the US-Israeli attack on Iran in late February. Since then, Tehran and its allies have targeted goals in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, while also disrupting supplies. Furthermore, Iran-backed Houthi rebels-who control northern Yemen-continue fighting government forces supported by a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Just last month, the Houthis initiated a sea blockade against Saudi Arabia, targeting Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea. Riyadh responded with aerial strikes against Houthi positions and established a new naval coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that an attack on one of the signatory states will be viewed as an attack on all members. The three nations expressed deep concern over the persistent conflict between Israel and Iran, noting that their common ally, the United States, is struggling to contain the crisis’s regional fallout.
Each member contributes uniquely to the alliance’s strength: Saudi Arabia provides significant financial power and leverages its status as one of the world’s largest arms importers. Turkey contributes its advanced defense industry, leveraging its status as NATO’s second-largest military. Meanwhile, Pakistan is the only state among the three to possess nuclear weapons.
