US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) welcomed the recently signed defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, saying that it shows how the Middle East is coming together.
He made these remarks in a Truth Social post and wrote, “Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way. Congratulations to the Great Leadership of the three Nations mentioned. THIS IS A BIG, BOLD, AND IMPORTANT FIRST STEP — WOW! “
The three-way agreement was signed on 7 August and comes against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Iran war, which has intensified violence across the region, including attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
What is the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?
According to a Reuters report, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca, pledging closer military cooperation as security concerns grow in the Middle East. An official statement said the three-way agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence and provides that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all.
The statement said, “The Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States.”
The agreement does not outline any specific military commitments or obligations. However, it states that its broader aim is to strengthen peace, stability and security in the region and beyond.
A Turkish official described the pact as “purely defensive”, stressing that it was not aimed at any specific country. The official added that other countries in the region could join the agreement and that it would complement, rather than replace, existing bilateral or multilateral defence arrangements.
This is a developing story. More details awaited.
