Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (C) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (R) sign a trilateral joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on August 7, 2026. (Photo by TUR Presidency /Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan today signed a new joint defense agreement, creating a NATO-style collective defense alliance that could soon be tested amid complex regional conflicts.
“The Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” a joint statement reads. “It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States.”
The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Sharif at the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The countries said the idea was “[g]uided by the longstanding historical ties among the three states, based on the enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and building upon their shared strategic interests and longstanding defense cooperation.” The agreement, the countries added, “reflect[s] the three states’ 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.”
