Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement in Mecca on Friday that treats an armed attack on any one of the three countries as an attack on all, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry reported, as the countries seek to expand collective deterrence and defense cooperation.
The agreement was signed during a closely watched summit attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Under the pact, the three countries committed to responding collectively if any member is attacked.
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Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence
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“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 said.
The countries described the pact as reflecting “The three States’ shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future.”
A Turkish official told Reuters that the agreement was defensive and was not aimed at any particular country or other actor. The official said the arrangement was open to additional countries in the region and did replace existing bilateral or multilateral arrangements.
Discussions over the agreement had been underway before Friday’s summit, according to a source close to the Saudi government and military who spoke anonymously to Agence France-Presse.
“The agreement has been under discussion for a long time, but recent developments in the region accelerated the process,” the source said.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defense pact last year, drawing considerable attention because Pakistan is the only Muslim country possessing nuclear weapons. In addition, in late July, Ankara also became one of 14 founding members of a Riyadh-led maritime defense coalition.
