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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Sign Joint Defense Pact Amid Regional Tensions

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, treating an attack on one as an attack on all.
  • The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence amid rising regional tensions, particularly involving Iran, and addresses concerns about U.S. security guarantees.
  • The agreement builds on existing defense ties, with Pakistan contributing nuclear capability, Turkey its defense industry, and Saudi Arabia its economic resources.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have solidified their security cooperation by signing the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a pact that treats an armed attack against any one of the three nations as an assault on all.

The agreement does not represent any intention to build a military axis or a sectarian/religious bloc.

— Rayed KrimlySaudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly stated the agreement's non-aggressive intent.

The agreement, signed Friday in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to bolster collective deterrence in a region marked by escalating tensions. While the full text remains undisclosed, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry indicated the pact is designed to enhance shared security and promote regional stability.

The pact stipulates that 'any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all' and is intended to strengthen collective deterrence.

— Pakistan's Foreign MinistryAccording to Al Jazeera, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry explained the core tenet of the agreement.

Officials emphasized the agreement is not directed against any specific country or intended to form a military or religious bloc. However, it emerges against a backdrop of increased instability involving Iran and its allies, which has prompted concerns in Riyadh about the reliability of its long-standing security partnership with the United States. This has encouraged regional powers to seek stronger defense alliances independent of Washington.

The agreement could include joint defense industry projects and counterterrorism cooperation.

— Recep Tayyip ErdoganTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan outlined potential areas of collaboration under the new pact.

The pact leverages existing defense ties. Pakistan has a history of providing military training to Saudi Arabia, while Turkey and Pakistan have advanced their cooperation in defense technology. Pakistan's inclusion adds strategic weight as a nuclear power, complemented by Turkey's growing defense industry and Saudi Arabia's substantial economic influence. President Erdogan suggested the agreement could encompass joint defense industry projects and counterterrorism efforts, framing it as a foundation for "collective deterrence."

The agreement was a 'historic endeavour' that would strengthen regional cooperation.

— Shehbaz SharifPakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the significance of the defense pact.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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