Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. ReutersShow caption: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets Saudi Crown Prince Mo…Deal aims to strengthen the three countries' collective security amid heightened regional tension The NationalAugust 07, 2026Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a Makkah Joint Defence Agreement to strengthen their collective security, the three countries said on Friday. The deal was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The agreement reflects the three states' 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 Pakistan's Defence Ministry said. The agreement also stipulates that an attack on one of the states is an attack on all. Saudi Arabia has been under attack by Yemen's Houthis in the south and Iran-backed militias in Iraq in the north. Pakistan has been mediating between the US and Iran to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement months, after US-Israeli war on Iran resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf neighbours. "For Turkey, [the agreement] creates significant opportunities to deepen its defence-industrial footprint through joint production, technology partnerships, procurement and greater military interoperability," said Burcu Ozcelik, a researcher on Middle East security at the think tank Rusi.Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already have a defence agreement. But the three countries together represent a stronger alliance. Saudi Arabia is a major global oil exporter, Turkey is a member of Nato and Pakistan is a nuclear-armed power. The pact was signed on Friday, the most sacred day of the week for Muslims, in the city of Islam's holiest site, Makkah. Updated: August 07, 2026, 11:24 AM