Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a new mutual defense agreement in Mecca on Friday, strengthening military cooperation between the three countries as Riyadh faces growing concerns over regional threats.

The agreement was signed during a summit attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A key provision states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all of them, establishing a collective defense commitment aimed at strengthening regional deterrence.

The pact also calls for expanded military and security cooperation and greater coordination in responding to shared threats. The three countries said the agreement is intended to support regional and international stability.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the collective defense provision, saying an armed attack against any of the three countries would be treated as an attack against them all.

The agreement comes amid heightened concern in Riyadh over possible threats from Iran and its regional proxies. A senior Saudi official said Thursday that intelligence indicates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is coordinating with Iran-backed militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen in preparation for possible attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The official said the intelligence was particularly concerning because Saudi Arabia has been pursuing de-escalation and negotiations with Iran, adding that the kingdom would not hesitate to take necessary measures in response to any aggression.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan previously signed a mutual defense agreement in September 2025. Turkey’s addition expands the arrangement into a three-country security alliance at a time of growing regional tensions.

The development also comes as relations between Turkey and Israel remain strained over Gaza and other regional conflicts, while Saudi Arabia’s prospects for normalization with Israel have become increasingly uncertain.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)