Pakistan says new defense pact with Saudi and Turkiye is ’purely defensive’ and open to others
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye have signed a landmark joint defense agreement known as the Makkah Accord. Officials state the pact is purely defensive and open to other regional nations, amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Why it matters
This alliance signals a significant shift in regional security dynamics and military cooperation in the Middle East and South Asia.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said on Sunday (August 9, 2026) a new defense agreement his country signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was not directed against any country and remained open to other nations in the region.
The landmark Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed on Friday (August 7) by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the three countries seek to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday (August 9) the agreement was “purely defensive in nature” and that other countries could join if they were willing to uphold its principles and resolve differences through peaceful means, adding the deal reflected a shared desire to strengthen strategic security cooperation.
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