Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have expanded their mutual defense pact to include Turkiye, forming a trilateral agreement signed in Mecca on Friday, August 9th, 2026. Under this pact, any external armed attack on one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all.

The agreement was announced more than five months after the US and Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, which escalated conflict in the Gulf and disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye have stated that the pact is the result of years of careful negotiations, aiming not to antagonize regional or international actors.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi commented on the pact, stating that when Muslims stand together, “we can face every challenge by malicious outsiders head-on.” Analysts from the Clingendael Institute highlighted that from Tehran’s perspective, the pact could strengthen Saudi deterrence and potentially facilitate coordinated pressure on Iran in Yemen, Iraq, and economically through Turkiye and Pakistan.

The timing of the agreement is significant, coming after months of conflict in which Saudi Arabia has faced attacks from Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen and armed groups in neighboring Iraq. Separately, Houthi missiles and drones struck the Saudi-backed government’s Red Sea port of al-Makha in Yemen, resulting in at least seven deaths, 15 injuries, and severe infrastructure damage.

Clingendael Institute’s Azizi noted that Tehran’s priority is likely to avoid the pact becoming an explicitly anti-Iranian coalition amid ongoing regional conflicts. This approach involves maintaining individual relations with each of the three countries. Azizi also suggested that if the pact is seen as protection against Iran or Iran-aligned groups, Iranian membership would be difficult. However, if the arrangement evolves into a broader regional security architecture, Iran’s participation could be reconsidered.

Sources