Pakistan says the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is open to other countries that share its principles and objectives.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan has said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is open to other countries that uphold its principles and share its objectives.
The statement comes days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the trilateral defence pact amid heightened security concerns across the Middle East.
Pact not limited to three countries
According to the report, Pakistan indicated that the agreement does not necessarily have to remain limited to the three signatories.
Countries that support the principles and objectives of the pact could potentially become part of the wider defence framework, depending on the agreement’s provisions and the consent of existing members.
The development could give the agreement a broader regional dimension if additional countries eventually express interest.
Collective defence at the centre
The Makkah agreement establishes a framework for closer defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
A key provision states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three.
The arrangement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence and improve strategic coordination among the participating countries.
Regional tensions provide backdrop
The agreement comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East and growing concerns over regional security.
Pakistan has longstanding defence and strategic relations with both Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, while the three countries have maintained close diplomatic ties on a range of regional and international issues.
The new pact formalises aspects of their defence cooperation under a collective-security framework.
Potential expansion could reshape pact
If additional countries that share the agreement’s principles join the framework, the pact could evolve into a broader regional security arrangement.
However, Pakistan’s statement does not mean that any additional country has formally sought membership or that an expansion is already underway.
Any future participation would depend on the relevant political and security considerations of the existing signatories.
For now, the Makkah agreement remains a trilateral pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, with its potential openness to like-minded states signalling an avenue for wider defence cooperation.
