Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan sign a defence pact amid escalating regional tensions

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement on Friday as regional tensions escalate amid the ongoing US-Iran war and renewed Houthi attacks.

Riyadh is seeking to strengthen its security partnerships as the conflict between the United States and Iran has drawn in neighbouring countries and disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

The conflict has emboldened Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen, who have targeted Saudi Arabia, while analysts say the crisis has also raised concerns in Riyadh over the reliability of Washington as a security partner.

In a joint statement released by the Saudi Press Agency and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the three countries announced the signing of the “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement”.

The agreement reflects their “shared commitment” to strengthening collective security and promoting peace, stability and security in the region and beyond.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said an attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all, describing the pact as a measure aimed at strengthening collective deterrence.

Türkiye, however, stressed that the agreement was not directed against any specific country. Ankara also said the pact did not conflict with its existing international commitments, including its obligations under NATO.

Saudi Arabia likewise said the agreement was not intended to create a military axis or sectarian bloc, nor was it connected to nuclear ambitions or an arms race. Instead, Riyadh said the focus was on developing sustainable defence capabilities and enhancing regional security.

The agreement comes as Saudi Arabia has sought closer ties with Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan since the outbreak of the regional conflict. The countries have also pushed for mediation and efforts to resolve the crisis.

Analysts said the pact reflects Riyadh’s efforts to diversify its security partnerships beyond the United States. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan are not seeking to replace Washington but are instead building additional capabilities to protect their interests if the US is unable or unwilling to do so.

The agreement could give Saudi Arabia greater influence in shaping regional security, while Türkiye and Pakistan could gain greater political leverage and access to potential Saudi investment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Mecca on Friday, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir also travelled to Saudi Arabia for the signing.

The pact comes amid renewed fighting involving Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. A previous truce between Riyadh and the Houthis has broken down, with the rebels launching attacks against Saudi targets and threatening maritime traffic in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis since 2015. A truce reached four years ago largely contained hostilities until renewed violence erupted in recent weeks.

On Thursday, at least 58 Yemeni government troops were reportedly killed in Houthi missile and drone attacks, according to a military source, marking one of the deadliest days in the conflict in recent years.