Turkey’s Foreign Minister Clarifies Defense Pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Turkey’s foreign minister emphasized that a recent defense agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is not targeted against Iran or any other nation. He described this pact as a crucial stride toward enhancing regional stability. The agreement, signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, took place in Mecca, a holy city in Saudi Arabia, and includes a promise that an attack on one nation is an attack on all three.

The ‘Mecca Joint Defense Agreement’ brings together the economically influential Saudi Arabia, the nuclear-capable Pakistan, and Turkey, which possesses NATO’s second-largest army along with a growing defense sector. This coalition aims to enhance mutual cooperation and deterrence amidst growing regional uncertainties and the threats arising from the conflict in Iran.

In a discussion with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that these countries do not necessarily perceive any state as an adversary unless provocations occur from that state. He stated, “We don’t have anything written down that defines a common threat. Any country that does not attack us is not a target for us.”

Fidan elaborated that the agreement’s mutual defense terms are similar to NATO’s Article 5, where an attack on one member is perceived as an attack on all. If a member requests assistance, support could include intelligence sharing, logistics, or deploying military units based on the threat level.

The minister also mentioned that other countries have expressed intentions to join this agreement, although he did not name these nations. He indicated that Egypt, which he called a “natural partner,” might join in the future.

Under this pact, the agreement stipulates that the foreign and defense ministers, along with the top military leaders of the three countries, will hold regular meetings. Additionally, a secretariat will be established in Saudi Arabia to oversee these operations.