Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Friday signed a landmark Joint Defense Agreement, committing to strengthen their collective security and declaring that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all.

The agreement was signed during a high-level summit at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, where Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The trilateral pact marks a significant expansion of strategic and military cooperation among the three countries at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions across the Middle East and the wider region.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three leaders said the agreement was founded on their longstanding historical ties, shared Islamic solidarity and decades of defense cooperation.

"Guided 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 defence cooperation, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, and Muhammed Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, signed the Joint Defence Agreement," the statement said.

According to the declaration, the agreement is intended to reinforce collective deterrence against external aggression while deepening military coordination among the three nations.

Under the pact, any armed attack against one of the signatory states will be treated as an attack against all three, reflecting a commitment to collective defense and mutual security.

The agreement also provides for expanded cooperation in defense planning, military training, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, defense technology and broader security collaboration.

During the summit, the leaders reviewed bilateral and trilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to promoting peace, stability and security across the Middle East and the broader Islamic world.

The three countries emphasized that the new partnership aims to strengthen regional stability while contributing to international peace and security through closer strategic coordination.

The signing of the agreement comes amid growing security challenges in the region, including heightened tensions in the Gulf, continued instability in the Red Sea and evolving geopolitical dynamics affecting regional security.

Analysts describe the pact as one of the most significant trilateral defense arrangements involving the three Muslim-majority nations in recent years, reflecting their shared determination to institutionalize military cooperation and enhance their ability to respond collectively to emerging security threats.

Officials from the three governments said the agreement opens a new chapter in strategic relations among Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, laying the foundation for expanded collaboration across defense, security and regional affairs. (ILKHA)