UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing the pact as a “bold and important first step” toward stronger regional security cooperation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump congratulated the leadership of the three countries and said the agreement demonstrated how countries in the Middle East could strengthen their ability to defend themselves.
“It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way,” Trump said.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7 during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The agreement provides for collective defence, stating that an armed attack against any one member would be regarded as an attack against all three, broadly comparable to NATO’s Article 5 principle.
Pact Focuses on Collective Defence and Regional Security
The agreement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran, which has affected security conditions across the Middle East and contributed to disruptions in maritime traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The trilateral agreement builds on the defence relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Islamabad and Riyadh signed a mutual defence agreement a year earlier under which aggression against either country would be treated as aggression against both.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed that the trilateral arrangement is defensive and is not directed against any country. Addressing a federal cabinet meeting on August 10, he said the Makkah agreement was intended to promote peace, security and prosperity in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar similarly described the pact as defensive in nature. He said the agreement reflected the longstanding ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and resulted from years of consultations aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation and addressing shared security challenges.
Erdogan Signals Potential Expansion of Defence Pact
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that the agreement could eventually expand beyond its three founding members. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Erdogan said Egypt could become a potential participant in the mutual defence arrangement, describing Cairo’s possible accession as one of several options under consideration.
Erdogan said the agreement had delivered an important message internationally and remained open to countries willing to uphold its core principles. Any expansion would further broaden the emerging regional security framework and could increase coordination among major Middle Eastern states on defence and strategic issues.