A defence agreement has been reached between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the President of Türkiye signed the agreement.
According to the foreign office spokesperson, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed a joint defence agreement on Friday as the three countries sought to deepen security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.
Foreign Office spokesperson said a joint defence chiefs’ summit was held in Makkah, where Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed a defence agreement.
According to the spokesperson, an attack on one member country will be considered an attack on all three countries.
The agreement will promote cooperation across all areas of defence and reflects the joint commitment of the three countries. Its objective is to strengthen their collective defence capabilities against any aggression.
Background and objectives
This agreement is not directed against any specific country or alliance; rather, it has been concluded to strengthen peace, stability and defence cooperation in the region. Its primary objective is to discourage war, reduce tensions and make joint defence capabilities more effective.
Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have maintained relations for several decades. Pakistan and Türkiye’s ties date back to the Khilafat Movement, while defence, political, economic and religious cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has always been exceptionally strong. The recent agreement gives these historic relations a formal legal and institutional framework.
Under the agreement, cooperation in defence, joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, defence industry collaboration, modern technology, counterterrorism, cybersecurity and various areas related to regional security will be further expanded.
Within this partnership, Pakistan’s professional and experienced armed forces, Saudi Arabia’s economic strength, strategic position and leadership, and Türkiye’s advanced defence industry and technology will further enhance one another’s capabilities, creating a balanced defence framework in the region.
Diplomatic circles say that Pakistan has played a diplomatic role in various conflicts in the Middle East in recent months, following which its regional importance has further increased. This defence agreement will take the strategic partnership between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to new heights.
Sources have clarified that it would not be correct to describe this agreement as a “Muslim NATO,” as it is not the formation of a military bloc or an aggressive alliance. Rather, it is a non-aggressive framework aimed at strengthening collective security, regional stability, defence self-reliance and mutual cooperation, with the objective of ensuring peace, stability and development in the region.
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