Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said on Sunday (August 9, 2026) that a new defence agreement his country signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was not directed against any country and remained open to other nations in the region.
Key Factors
The landmark Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday (August 7) by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the three countries seek to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Evidence and Data
Abdullah Khan, an Islamabad-based defence analyst, said that although the agreement was signed during a period of heightened regional tensions, it should not be interpreted as being directed against Iran or another country. Charter. In Islamabad, defence analysts cautioned against viewing the agreement as the equivalent of NATO, despite its collective-defence provision.
Dar said in his post the stipulation was consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N.
The agreement stipulates “that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” according to statements released by the three sides. Pakistan, he said, would continue working with countries across the region toward lasting peace and stability. “The Makkah Accord does not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries, or with other countries or organizations,” he wrote.
What It Means
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday (August 9) the agreement was “purely defensive in nature” and that other countries could join if they were willing to uphold its principles and resolve differences through peaceful means, adding the deal reflected a shared desire to strengthen strategic security cooperation. His post on X came a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan similarly said the agreement was not aimed at Iran or any other country.
