Mecca defence pact has only three founding members, but its biggest story could be what if any of these nations got attacked in near future and who joins next. The mutual defence agreement in Mecca, declaring that an attack on any one of the three countries should be treated as an attack on all three.
The uncertainty has not stopped speculation about something much bigger. The pact has been presented as a defensive arrangement rather than an alliance aimed at a particular country. More importantly, it has been described as open to additional countries.
Several countries already emerged as potential candidates for a future expansion with Qatar being among the most obvious countries to consider joining. Doha maintains close relationships with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye and is a powerhouse in financial resources as well as being key strategic Gulf nation.
Before Türkiye became part of the Saudi-Pakistan defence framework, Qatar had already been discussed as a possible addition. If the Mecca agreement expands into a wider Gulf security arrangement, Qatar could become one of the first countries in the spotlight.
Egypt could bring an entirely different level of military weight to the alliance. The country of 120 million people has one of the region’s largest armed forces and occupies an important strategic position linking the Arab world, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and North Africa.
Caira was also involved in earlier discussions about broader defence cooperation but was not included in the final trilateral agreement. Its eventual participation could dramatically change the balance of the proposed bloc.
The next stage could involve other Gulf countries. Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Oman are among the countries that could potentially become involved in a broader regional security arrangement. Kuwait already has defence cooperation framework with Pakistan, while Saudi Arabia has developed wider security cooperation with several Gulf partners.
The possibility of expansion therefore extends well beyond the original three countries. However, none of these states has formally joined the Mecca pact so far, and remain potential participants rather than confirmed members.
Jordan could also become part of a future expansion because of its strategic location and defence relationships across the region. Beyond the Middle East, the possibilities become even broader.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has suggested that the arrangement should remain open rather than become an exclusive club. He described the long-term vision in terms of a possible “NATO of the Islamic world”, arguing that Muslim countries should put aside differences where possible and cooperate on collective security.
The Muslim world contains competing interests, political rivalries and very different relationships with Israel, Iran, the United States and other major powers.
The timing of the agreement is critical. Middle East experienced enormous upheaval since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023, followed by devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Türkiye has its own longstanding conflict with Kurdish armed organisations operating inside and outside the country, while relations between Ankara and Israel have also become increasingly tense while Pakistan faces a different set of security challenges, including tensions along its border with Afghanistan and its military confrontation with India in May 2025.
Islamabad comes in alliance with experienced military, extensive defence capabilities, battlefield experience and a nuclear arsenal, the only such arsenal hold by Muslim country whereas Türkiye brings sophisticated defence technology, a powerful domestic military industry and world-class drone capabilities. Its position as a NATO member also gives it a unique strategic role.
Why did Pakistan, Saudi and Turkey sign Defence Pact, and What does it mean for Israel and Iran?
