'Attack on one, attack on all'

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on Friday signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, reaffirming their commitment to collective security, defence cooperation and regional stability, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, they said in a joint statement.

However, the statement did not give specifics on the commitments each had accepted and it was not clear how far their agreement would bind them to any particular military action in each other's defence.

According to the ministry, the agreement establishes a framework for collective deterrence against acts of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three signatory states will be regarded as an attack against all three.

The ministry said the pact was guided by the three countries' "longstanding historical ties", the "enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity" and their shared strategic interests and defence cooperation.

It added that the agreement reflects their "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."

The agreement also provides for enhanced cooperation across all aspects of defence between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, the Foreign Office said.

The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, held at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, it added.

The ministry said the three leaders reviewed the longstanding relations among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, as well as a range of issues of mutual interest.

The three nations share growing concerns over Middle East chaos and an increasingly assertive Israel, as the United States struggles to contain regional threats.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement regarding the "Makkah Joint Defence Agreement," stating that the agreement was based on "the longstanding historical ties among the three countries, the bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and their shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation."

According to the statement, they echoed that the agreement is intended to strengthen collective security, achieve "security, peace, and stability in the region and the world", and expand defence cooperation among the three countries.

The ministry said the agreement "stipulates that any armed attack on any one of the three countries shall be considered an attack on all of them."

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said the agreement was not aimed at any specific country. A Turkish official added that it was purely defensive and did not abrogate any existing agreements the countries had with other states.

'Shield of peace'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as a "historic pact", saying the three countries were united by faith, friendship and a shared commitment to peace and security.

In a post on X, the prime minister said he was honoured to sign the agreement alongside the Saudi crown prince and the Turkish president.

He said the pact would serve as a "shield of peace" for generations and expressed hope that it would bring prosperity to the three countries and the wider Muslim world. Shehbaz also appreciated Field Marshal Asim Munir's efforts and dedication towards the agreement.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar said the landmark agreement marks an important step in advancing strategic cooperation and further strengthening the enduring bonds of brotherhood among the three nations.

In a post on X, he said he was honoured to participate in the signing ceremony of the agreement.

"May this partnership contribute to greater regional peace, stability, and mutual prosperity for generations to come, Insha'Allah," he added.

A formal framework for existing ties

According to security analysts, the agreement represents the natural progression of longstanding political, military and strategic relations among the three countries.

They note that Pakistan's ties with Turkiye date back to the Khilafat Movement, while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained decades of defence, political, economic and diplomatic cooperation based on what they describe as mutual trust and shared strategic interests.

Rather than establishing an entirely new partnership, analysts say the agreement provides a formal institutional framework for cooperation that has evolved over many years.

Security analysts argue that the agreement reflects a rapidly changing regional security environment.

They point to regional conflicts, evolving security threats and changes in the character of modern warfare as factors driving closer strategic coordination among countries that share common security interests.

According to them, the trilateral framework is intended to preserve regional stability by strengthening collective security mechanisms instead of relying on ad hoc bilateral cooperation.

At its core, the agreement establishes a framework based on the principles of collective security and collective deterrence.

Security analysts say its central premise is that aggression against one member would be regarded as a threat to all three, thereby increasing the potential cost of military action and discouraging conflict through credible deterrence.

The agreement draws on what security analysts describe as the complementary strengths of each participant.

Pakistan contributes experienced armed forces, operational expertise and strategic planning capabilities developed through decades of counterterrorism operations and conventional military preparedness.

Saudi Arabia brings economic strength, regional influence and political leadership, while Turkiye contributes an advanced defence industry, military technology and industrial capacity.

Together, analysts say, these capabilities form a balanced security architecture capable of responding to emerging regional security challenges.

Security analysts also argue that Pakistan has increasingly emerged as a regional stabiliser through its diplomatic engagement in recent regional crises.