Defense Agreement Unites Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey
In Ankara, Turkey, a new defense agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey has been announced. According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, this pact does not target Iran or any other country. The agreement, deemed a significant step towards regional stability, was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the holy city of Mecca.
The document includes a commitment that an attack on one would be seen as an attack on all three nations. Known as the ‘Mecca Joint Defense Agreement,’ it brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army and an expanding defense industry. This agreement enhances cooperation and deterrence amid regional uncertainties and threats, particularly related to the conflict in Iran.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in an interview with Anadolu Agency, highlighted that the three countries do not view any specific state as an adversary unless it acts aggressively toward them. He stated, “We have nothing in writing, nothing we have signed that defines a common threat. Any country that does not attack us is not a target for us.”
Fidan compared the mutual defense clause in the agreement to NATO’s Article 5, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. He explained that for the mechanism to operate, a member must formally request assistance. This aid could range from intelligence sharing to logistical support or military deployment, depending on the threat level.
The Turkish minister noted that the agreement could evolve based on varying threats. Other nations have shown interest in joining, with Egypt potentially participating in future phases. Under the agreement, foreign and defense ministers, along with military leaders from the three nations, will meet regularly. A secretariat will be established in Saudi Arabia to oversee the agreement’s implementation.