Key Points
- Erdogan says the pact targets no particular country.
- The agreement is open to other peace-seeking brotherly countries.
- Shehbaz Sharif calls the agreement a shield of peace.
ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately described the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as a landmark framework for strengthening collective deterrence, security and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, while stressing that the pact is aimed at promoting regional peace and stability rather than targeting any particular country.
Erdogan said the agreement was signed during his visit to Makkah following an invitation from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, with the three leaders meeting to discuss regional security and cooperation.
“On this occasion, we signed a Joint Defense Agreement as three countries,” Erdogan said in a post on X.
He said the agreement, based on collective deterrence, would contribute to advancing security and defence cooperation, developing joint projects in the defence industry and combating terrorism.
Bugün Suudi Arabistan Veliaht Prensi ve Başbakanı Muhammed bin Selman’ın nazik davetine icabetle Mekke-i Mükerreme’ye bir ziyaret gerçekleştirdik.
Ziyaretimde aziz kardeşlerim Suudi Arabistan Veliaht Prensi ve Başbakanı Muhammed bin Selman ve Pakistan Başbakanı Şahbaz Şerif’le…
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) August 7, 2026
The Turkish president said the agreement also reaffirmed the right of defence recognised under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Article 51 recognises the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a UN member state.
Erdogan says agreement targets no country
Erdogan stressed that the Makkah agreement “targets no country” and said it remained open to the participation of other brotherly countries seeking peace, prosperity and stability in the region.
He said Turkiye would continue pursuing what he described as a vision of regional ownership, with conflicts and crises to be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy and in accordance with international law.
“Türkiye will resolutely continue its principled stance toward resolving conflicts and crises through dialogue and diplomacy on the basis of respect for international law,” Erdoğan said.
Likewise, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, meanwhile, described Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as three brotherly nations united by faith, friendship and a shared commitment to peace and security.
Honoured to sign the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement alongside my dear brothers, HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Three brotherly nations, united by faith, friendship and a shared resolve for peace and security.
May this historic… https://t.co/v4gcORhbyd
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 7, 2026
In his message, Sharif said he had the honour of signing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Historic Pact
He prayed that the “historic pact”, signed in the shadow of the Haramain, would serve as a shield of peace for generations and contribute to prosperity in the three countries and the wider Muslim Ummah.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Al Safa Palace. Makkah, 7 August 2026. pic.twitter.com/opj0uNFY0L
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) August 7, 2026
Sharif also expressed appreciation for Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying his untiring efforts and utmost dedication had contributed significantly to the agreement.
The agreement brings together three countries with longstanding political, military and strategic relationships and gives their defence cooperation a new trilateral framework.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia-Turkiye-Pakistan Defence Pact Reflects Shared Commitment to Regional Security: Saudi FM
The pact also expands on the existing defence relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which was formalised through a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in Riyadh in September 2025.
HRH the Crown Prince, President of Türkiye, and Prime Minister of Pakistan sign the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. pic.twitter.com/IGmuVbknl1
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 7, 2026
Under that bilateral agreement, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed that aggression against either country would be considered aggression against both, while committing themselves to strengthening defence cooperation and joint deterrence.
The new trilateral agreement therefore adds Turkiye to a collective defence framework that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already established bilaterally.
The three countries also bring different defence capabilities and strategic interests to the new arrangement, potentially creating opportunities for greater military coordination, defence production, technology cooperation and joint projects.
For Turkiye, the agreement adds another layer to its expanding security and defence partnerships in the region. For Pakistan, it strengthens ties with two strategically important partners and expands the framework for defence cooperation beyond its existing bilateral arrangements.
For Saudi Arabia, the agreement provides another avenue for strengthening its security partnerships at a time of heightened instability across the Middle East.
