Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a joint defence agreement, pledging mutual defence guarantees and stating that an attack on one will be regarded as an attack on all three. The pact, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, was announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026, during a meeting in the Saudi city of Mecca attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The agreement aims to "strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression," and includes provisions to enhance all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states. This move comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US and Israel's attack on Shia Islam-dominated Iran on February 28th, 2026, which led Tehran and its allies to retaliate with attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, including blockades of shipments.

Last month, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, controlling much of the country's northwest, announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia and targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had previously announced a joint defence pact last year, and the inclusion of Turkey marks a significant expansion of their security cooperation. According to Burcu Ozcelik of the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the agreement offers opportunities for joint production, technology partnerships, procurement, and greater military interoperability among the countries' defence industries.

The pact reflects a broader recalibration of defence strategies across the Gulf region in response to ongoing conflicts and disruptions to crucial maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Sources