MAKKAH: The Makkah Pact marked a major shift in regional security on Friday as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, committing to collective defence, stronger military cooperation and long-term regional stability.

The agreement, announced by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), establishes a framework under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all signatories. The landmark accord also expands defence collaboration across military training, strategic coordination and joint security initiatives.

More than 100 words into the agreement’s announcement, officials described the Makkah Pact as a significant step toward strengthening security cooperation while promoting peace and stability across the region.

The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence at Al-Safa Palace, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held high-level discussions.

According to the Foreign Office, the three leaders reviewed longstanding bilateral ties, regional developments and opportunities to deepen strategic cooperation.

The ministry said the agreement builds on decades of defence collaboration and reflects the countries’ shared commitment to protecting regional peace through collective deterrence.

Regional security concerns have intensified in recent months following escalating tensions across the Middle East, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and growing uncertainty surrounding wider geopolitical developments.

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Saudi Arabia remains the Gulf’s leading economic and energy power, Turkiye possesses NATO’s second-largest military, while Pakistan is the world’s only nuclear-armed Muslim nation, giving the trilateral alliance significant strategic weight.

President Erdogan arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier on Friday for a one-day working visit before travelling to Makkah for the summit. He was welcomed in Jeddah by senior Saudi officials before meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The agreement follows months of diplomatic negotiations. Earlier reports indicated the three countries had been working on a broader regional security framework aimed at improving defence coordination and crisis response.

The new accord also builds upon the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, which declared that aggression against either country would be considered aggression against both.

Despite expanding defence ties, Pakistan has continued to pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran and has repeatedly supported dialogue aimed at reducing regional tensions rather than becoming directly involved in military conflicts.

Military cooperation among the three countries has steadily grown over the years. Pakistan has trained Saudi security forces for decades, while Turkiye and Pakistan have expanded defence collaboration through naval cooperation, military exercises and defence exports.

Saudi Arabia has also strengthened military partnerships with both countries, including purchasing Turkish drones and hosting Pakistani troops, fighter aircraft, drones and air defence systems under existing security arrangements.

Officials described Friday’s agreement as a new chapter in trilateral cooperation that could reshape regional defence coordination while reinforcing long-standing strategic partnerships among the three nations.