What is Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkey 'NATO-Style' Defence Agreement? EXPLAINED

ISLAMABAD/JEDDAH – For months, there were reports of strategic alliance echoed through diplomatic circles. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday inked landmark NATO-style defence pact.

Three Islamic nations boosted defense partnership with collective defense clause in Makkah Defence Agreement, which similar to NATO’s Article 5. The proposed pact would commit Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh to treat armed attack on any one member as an attack against all, in a shift in the region’s security architecture.

Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence

What Is Pakistan Saudi Arabia Turkey Nato Style Defence Agreement Explained

Guided by the longstanding historical ties among the three States, based on the enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and building upon their shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, and H.E. Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, reflecting the three States’ shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future, the document said.

FO said the agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States.

The development comes as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is accompanied by a high-powered delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Asim Munir, senior military leadership and other federal ministers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also joined them, with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.

Makkah al-Mukarrama
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, where he was received by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

A bilateral meeting between the two leaders is now underway.… https://t.co/heHAZTgm1t pic.twitter.com/UjW3rjHKmA

— Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) August 7, 2026

The negotiations on proposed defense framework have been underway for months but accelerated after recent geopolitical developments across Middle East.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acknowledged that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey had been discussing enhanced defense collaboration, describing President Erdoğan’s vision as establishing a broader regional strategic platform, although he clarified that no formal agreement had yet been finalized.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Defence Production, Raza Hayat Hiraj, also revealed that a draft trilateral defense agreement had been prepared after nearly a year of negotiations. He said the proposed arrangement would be separate from the existing Pakistan-Saudi Arabia security framework. The two countries had already strengthened military ties through a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed last year, expanding cooperation in defense and security matters.

The defense initiative comes as the Middle East witnessed rapid strategic realignments in wake of recent regional conflicts and rising security concerns. Pakistan has recently engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between the United States and Iran, while Turkey has remained actively involved in regional diplomacy, including efforts related to the Gaza conflict.

Defense analysts believe formal trilateral alliance would combine Pakistan’s strategic deterrence capabilities as the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed state, Saudi Arabia’s financial and political influence, and Turkey’s advanced military industry and regional diplomatic reach.

Such cooperation could strengthen collective deterrence, deepen military coordination and create a more unified regional security framework at a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.

The reported agreement shwos improvement in Saudi-Turkish relations after years of strained ties following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Diplomatic engagement, trade and strategic cooperation between Ankara and Riyadh have steadily expanded over the past two years, paving the way for closer collaboration.