As tensions continue to rise in the West Asian region, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed a historic collective defense agreement on Friday.
Under this agreement, any attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on the others as well.
At a meeting held at the Al Safa Palace in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signed this “Mecca Collective Defense” agreement.
In the joint statement issued regarding this agreement, it was stated that ‘this agreement has been created with the aim of strengthening collective deterrence against any act of aggression.
It also stated that it will help enhance all aspects of defense cooperation among the three countries and maintain peace and stability in the region.’
In a context where West Asian conflicts have intensified at multiple fronts, including not only the Strait of Hormuz but also the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, this move gains significance. Similarly, in September last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a “strategic mutual defense agreement.” Accordingly, Pakistan sent its military personnel and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for joint exercises and to support Saudi Arabia’s defense needs.
Before the signing of the current agreement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir met and spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At that time, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif were also present. “This meeting will strengthen long-term bilateral relations and multifaceted strategic cooperation beyond the current tensions in the Gulf region,” the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said.
Earlier, following attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia last week proposed a ‘multinational maritime security coalition (MMTC)’ to protect commercial shipping routes and energy supply lines passing through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It is noteworthy that 14 countries, including Pakistan, expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s maritime security initiative.


