Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a joint defence agreement, according to multiple reports. The signing took place in Jeddah, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arriving in the city ahead of the ceremony, The Times of Israel reported.
The pact has been described as a Nato-style arrangement by The Guardian, which noted it was signed amid deadly Houthi strikes in Yemen. The Australian reported that the deal was concluded against a backdrop of attack warnings in the region.
Al Jazeera referred to the agreement as the “Mecca Joint Defence Pact” and reported that a separate deal concerning the Strait of Hormuz was nearing completion. The Canberra Times also confirmed the signing of the defence deal among the three nations.
The agreement brings together three major Muslim-majority states with significant military capabilities. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have long maintained close security ties, while Turkey has expanded its defence partnerships across the Middle East in recent years.
The timing of the pact is notable given the security environment. The Australian’s reference to attack warnings suggests the deal is a direct response to perceived threats, though specific details of those warnings were not provided in the reporting.
The inclusion of the Strait of Hormuz in Al Jazeera’s coverage points to maritime security as a likely area of focus. The strait is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and any agreement affecting it would carry broad economic implications.
Details on the pact’s specific provisions, such as joint military exercises, intelligence sharing or mutual defence commitments, have not yet been published. The full text of the agreement has not been made public.
What to watch next: Whether the reported Hormuz deal materialises and how the new pact affects regional alignments in the coming weeks.
