THE signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is a historic development, not only for the three fraternal countries but for the wider Muslim Ummah. Signed in the holy city of Makkah by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the agreement marks a natural convergence of three important Muslim countries whose relations are rooted in faith, history, friendship and shared strategic interests.
The most significant provision of the agreement is clear: an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all. This is a powerful expression of collective deterrence. It does not mean that the three countries are seeking confrontation; rather, its real strength lies in making aggression more difficult to contemplate. When a potential aggressor knows that an attack on one country could bring the collective response of three capable states, the prospect of conflict becomes less attractive. In that sense, the agreement can genuinely serve the cause of peace and stability. The farsightedness of the leadership of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye deserves appreciation. The international and regional security environment is changing rapidly. Old assumptions about security are being challenged, conflicts are spreading across borders and the reliability of traditional security arrangements is increasingly being questioned. In such circumstances, it is both natural and necessary for friendly and brotherly countries to develop mechanisms through which they can consolidate their security, strengthen their deterrence and contribute to regional peace. Both Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have made it clear that the agreement is not directed against any country. President Erdoğan said it “does not target any country” and is open to other brotherly countries seeking peace, prosperity and stability. Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly similarly stressed that the agreement is neither an attempt to establish a military axis or sectarian bloc nor a threat to any country. This is an important message and should be welcomed. Indeed, the door should remain open for other Muslim countries to join, should they wish to do so. For decades, there have been calls for greater unity and collective action among Muslim countries to address their common challenges. Those calls have often remained more rhetorical than practical. The Makkah agreement, therefore, could become an important foundation for turning the principle of Muslim solidarity into concrete cooperation. We are confident that other Muslim countries will also find value in becoming part of a broader framework of collective security. Surely, the development will not please the enemies of Muslims, especially Israel and India both of which have a long and deeply troubling record of oppressing and suppressing Muslim populations and resisting their legitimate political and security aspirations.
What makes this agreement particularly promising is that each of the three countries brings a distinct strength to the partnership. Türkiye has developed an increasingly sophisticated defence industry and recorded more than $10 billion in defence and aerospace exports in 2025, placing it among the world’s leading defence exporters. Pakistan possesses substantial military expertise, an established defence-production base and nuclear capability. Our armed forces while inflicting a humiliating defeat on a far bigger enemy in May last year once again proved their professionalism and capabilities. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, brings enormous economic and energy resources and is a major global energy power. The convergence of these strengths can go far beyond military cooperation. Joint defence production, technology partnerships, training, research and development can create new economic opportunities and strengthen the industrial bases of all three countries. Equally important, the strategic partnership should give fresh momentum to trade, investment and economic cooperation. Each country can support the others in areas where it has greater expertise, resources or technological capacity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was, therefore, right to describe the agreement as a “shield of peace” and to express the hope that it would bring prosperity not only to the three countries but to the wider Muslim world. We have no doubt that this defence pact will become a model of how Muslim countries can pool their strengths, stand by one another and build collective security without threatening anyone. That indeed is a historic contribution to peace and a powerful example for the Muslim world.
