Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing that an armed attack on any member will be considered an attack on all. The pact, inked on 7 August by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, unites a combined force of nearly 1.4 million active personnel and 3,400 aircraft with annual defence budgets totalling $124.4 billion.
The alliance leverages complementary strengths: Pakistan contributes nuclear capabilities and the largest troop pool, Turkey offers NATO-standard forces, and Saudi Arabia provides financial resources while seeking to diversify arms partnerships beyond Washington. Turkish officials stated the agreement remains open to regional neighbours, with Egypt viewed as a potential partner.
The pact's formation follows heightened regional tensions after Iran attacked Saudi Arabia in February and Houthi rebels struck Saudi oil facilities over the weekend. India's foreign ministry said it is closely monitoring the development.