Ali Anwar
The announcement made on 7 August 2026 on the sacred soil of Makkah is not merely news of a defence agreement; it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the changing landscape of global and regional politics. By signing the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement,” Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have laid a new foundation for mutual security, defence cooperation and the protection of shared strategic interests. The core principle of the agreement is that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three.
The agreement, signed in Makkah in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, also carries historic symbolism. The three countries have expressed their commitment to further strengthening their historic relations, Islamic brotherhood, shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation. The agreement comes at a time when the Middle East is experiencing intense geopolitical tensions, a growing crisis of trust among regional powers, and increasing efforts by various countries to seek new regional partners for their national security. In such an environment, the decision by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye to establish a joint defence framework carries exceptional significance.
To view Pakistan’s participation merely as a formal defence arrangement among three countries would be to underestimate its true importance. Pakistan enters this partnership as a state with decades of defence experience, well-organised and experienced armed forces, modern military capabilities, and practical experience in dealing with the complex security challenges of the region.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are not limited to any particular government or era. The two countries share nearly eight decades of historic relations based on religious devotion, popular affection, mutual trust, defence cooperation and shared interests. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were already bound by a strong framework of strategic defence cooperation, while in 2025 the two countries further strengthened their defence ties. With the inclusion of Türkiye, this cooperation has now acquired a broader regional dimension.
Türkiye, with its strong defence industry, advanced drone technology, naval capabilities and extensive military experience, represents an important pillar of this partnership. Saudi Arabia is of exceptional importance because of its economic strength, energy resources and political influence in the region, while Pakistan is a vital member of this strategic triangle because of its military capabilities, defence experience and geographical and strategic position in South Asia and the wider Muslim world.
Viewed from this perspective, the three countries complement each other’s defence and strategic capabilities.
In this entire process, the role of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir cannot be overlooked. Although the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was formally signed by the leaders of the three countries, Pakistan’s military leadership has played an important role in the high-level defence and strategic consultations that preceded the agreement. Field Marshal Asim Munir has emphasised moving defence relations with Saudi Arabia beyond traditional military cooperation towards a broader strategic partnership.
It is also noteworthy that during an important meeting in March concerning defence relations with Saudi Arabia, the presence of Field Marshal Asim Munir conveyed a clear message of Pakistan’s practical solidarity with Saudi security.
Similarly, Field Marshal Asim Munir has undertaken important diplomatic and military engagements aimed at further strengthening defence relations between Pakistan and Türkiye. During his high-level visit to Türkiye in July 2026, he held meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, the Turkish Defence Minister and the Turkish military leadership. Discussions focused on regional security and strengthening strategic and defence cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Against this backdrop, the Makkah Agreement makes it clear that Pakistan’s military diplomacy has, over the past several months, been working to advance defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye within a broader strategic framework.
The fact that the agreement was concluded in Makkah also carries profound symbolism. For Muslims around the world, Makkah is not merely a city; it is a symbol of devotion, spiritual attachment and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. When the leaders of three important Muslim countries gather in this sacred city and express their commitment to joint defence and mutual security, the diplomatic and symbolic implications extend far beyond the immediate agreement. However, it would not be correct to view this agreement as a front against any particular country or as a sectarian alliance. The three countries have emphasised the defensive nature of the agreement and have not presented it as an offensive alliance directed against any specific state. The fundamental message is that major countries of the Muslim world wish to attach greater importance to mutual cooperation, shared defence capabilities and regional partnerships in matters concerning their security.
The Makkah Defence Agreement also gives new significance to Pakistan’s global and regional position. Pakistan is, on the one hand, an important nuclear state in South Asia; on the other, it occupies a strategically significant geographical position close to the Gulf and the Middle East, while maintaining a deep strategic partnership with China. Its historic brotherly relations with Türkiye and its exceptional closeness with Saudi Arabia provide Pakistan with a unique diplomatic position. Following this agreement, Pakistan may no longer be viewed solely through the lens of South Asian security politics. It could also assume a more prominent role in the broader security discourse involving the Gulf, the Middle East and the Muslim world.
An important dimension of defence cooperation is also economic. Pakistan and Türkiye are already cooperating in defence production, while Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans to localise its defence industry. Joint planning and cooperation in the defence-industrial sector among the three countries could create new opportunities for Pakistan in terms of investment, technology, employment and exports. If Pakistan’s defence industry becomes integrated with Turkish technology and Saudi investment, the three countries could jointly develop new products and capabilities in areas such as drones, defence electronics, aviation, naval technology and other advanced defence sectors.
In this sense, the Makkah Agreement is not merely a military cooperation pact; it could also serve as the foundation for a broader defence and industrial partnership in the future. Within this entire strategic landscape, Pakistan’s military leadership particularly Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s continued defence and strategic consultations with the Saudi and Turkish leadership cannot be overlooked.
The extent to which the agreement concluded on the sacred soil of Makkah will evolve into a practical defence alliance in the coming years will ultimately be determined by time. But one thing is clear: today, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have sent a message to the world that the security of each of these three countries is important to the other two.
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.
