Dear Editor,
On 7 August 2026, an agreement was signed at Al-Safa Palace titled the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, under which Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey established a trilateral mutual defence pact. Under the pact, an armed attack against one of the three signatory states will be considered an attack against all three, establishing a core principle of collective defence. In light of recent tensions in the Middle East, this agreement has to reshape how power is distributed across the region.
In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia first signed the bilateral Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA). However, its subsequent expansion to include Turkey implicitly indicates a NATO-style Article 5 commitment.
During US-Iran tensions, Saudi Arabia concluded that it could no longer rely on American security guarantees. It started exploring multiple layers of security protection, including a defence pact with Pakistan and a nuclear agreement with the US. From many perspectives, the Makkah agreement strengthens the existing Pakistan-Saudi defence agreement. Built on Türkiye’s manufacturing capabilities, Saudi Arabia’s financial resources and Pakistan’s trained forces and capabilities as demonstrated in the war with India in May 2025, the agreement signifies an important step toward shaping a new security architecture in West Asia.
Recently, Bangladesh has expressed interest in joining the Makkah joint defence agreement to enhance its regional security and protect its national interest. However, a final decision has not yet been made.
The ultimate message of the Makkah Agreement is that regional security cannot be achieved in isolation-it is tied to the safety of every state within the region and requires collaborative efforts. While the pact offers mutual benefits to all stakeholders, Pakistan’s way forward should be to uphold the defence agreement while maintaining an independent stance on regional conflict. Economically, the agreement gives Pakistan a rare opening: Saudi capital, Turkish industrial and defence technology, and Pakistan’s own strategic location could together unlock billions in investment, boost exports, and modernize sectors from energy to manufacturing. But this window will translate into real growth only if Pakistan prioritizes diplomatic goodwill while capitalizing on economic and technological opportunities; it can leverage these alliances to its advantage.
Regards
Kahaf Sattar Banbhan
Khairpur, Sindh