Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have announced the formation of a joint defense alliance under which an attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all.
The agreement, unveiled at a summit in Mecca, is being viewed as one of the most significant regional security initiatives in recent years. Analysts say it is widely seen as an effort to deter Iran amid rising tensions across the Middle East.
The pact was signed during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a joint statement, the three countries said the alliance is intended to strengthen collective security, deepen military cooperation, and promote regional stability.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stressed that the agreement obligates the other two signatories to assist if any one of the member states comes under attack. According to the statement, the goal is to establish a credible deterrent by making clear that aggression against one member will trigger a collective response.
Regional analysts believe the alliance is intended to send a clear message to Iran while strengthening Saudi Arabia's security posture through cooperation with two major regional military powers.
Iran's Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee, warned on X, "Saudis must know that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as years of one-sided nursing to the Americans did not bring them security. Reform your policies so that you do not need to beg for security from others."