Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign defence pact
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a joint defence pact in Mecca, agreeing that an attack on one will be considered an attack on all. The agreement aims to bolster collective security amid rising regional tensions involving Iran.
Why it matters
This alliance shifts the regional balance of power by formalizing military cooperation between three significant Sunni-majority nations.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact in Mecca
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a joint defence agreement, saying an attack on one of them would be seen as an attack on all three.
The pact was announced at a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Saudi city of Mecca.
The three countries have been looking to strengthen security ties as the war between the US and Iran has drawn in Saudi Arabia and disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping channel, and the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defence pact last year.
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