On Friday, August 7th, 2026, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a pact pledging mutual support among the three Sunni states. Pakistan's foreign ministry announced that an attack on any of the three countries "shall be regarded as an attack against them all."

The agreement comes amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, where Iran and its allies have launched attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, including blockades of shipments following US and Israeli strikes on February 28th. In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have declared a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia and targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia has responded with strikes on Houthi positions and formed a naval coalition to protect shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan aims to strengthen their collective defense, though it provides no specifics on the obligations of each member.

A Turkish official, quoted by Reuters, described the pact as "purely defensive in nature." Saudi Arabia contributes significant financial power and is among the largest weapons purchasers, while Turkey is NATO's second-largest military force with advanced defense production capabilities.

The three countries have expressed concern over the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and the difficulties faced by their common ally, the US, in containing regional repercussions.

Sources