The Makkah Agreement: A new architecture for regional security
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye have signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement to establish a collective security framework. The agreement aims to deter regional aggression and strengthen cooperation among these three major Muslim-majority nations.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in regional power dynamics and security architecture in the Middle East and South Asia.
The signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye on Friday was a historic development for our region. When Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif came together in Makkah, they established a collective defense framework among three of the most powerful states of the Muslim world. Its central commitment is clear: an armed attack against one will be regarded as an attack against all. Its purpose is equally clear: to deter aggression, strengthen collective security and contribute to lasting regional peace. The public response reflected the importance of the occasion. There was understandable pride and jubilation in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye as people watched their leaders come together at an exceptionally difficult moment for the region.
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