TODAY’S PAPER | August 29, 2026 | EPAPER

OIC welcomes 'historic' Turkish-Saudi-Pakistani joint defence pact

Says agreement constitutes fundamental pillar for supporting security, stability in region, across Muslim world


Anadolu Agency August 08, 2026 1 min read
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Makkah, Saudi Arabia on August 7, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement among Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed his “strong appreciation and support” for the agreement, describing it as an “important strategic step” reflecting the three countries’ commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation, according to a statement by the organisation.

Taha said the agreement constituted “a fundamental pillar for supporting security and stability in the region and across the Muslim world.”

He added that it embodied a shared determination to address growing security challenges and strengthen solidarity and constructive partnerships among OIC member states.

The OIC chief also praised the efforts and leadership of the three countries that culminated in the signing of what he called a “historic agreement.”

He expressed hope that the pact would contribute to achieving peace and prosperity in the region and the wider international community.

On Friday, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement at a trilateral summit in Makkah, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Read: Inside the Makkah defence pact and its regional implications

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the summit held at Al-Safa Palace.

According to information obtained from Turkish officials, the agreement is a defence-oriented cooperation arrangement that targets no country and is designed to strengthen commitments to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity through burden-sharing and a common security approach.

The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries shall be regarded as an attack against them all, the officials added.

COMMENTS (1)

Benjamin | 2 weeks ago | Reply So what is next. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif will visit other Arab countries wasting fuel to join Islamic NATO. African continent also has Muslim countries Nigeria Niger Ivory Coast Chad Sudan and ex Soviet Union countries Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Turkmenistan. Instead of trade PM Shehbaz Sharif is more interested Defense Pact.
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