Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia sign defence pact in Mecca

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, as the three Sunni-majority US allies seek to bolster collective security amid a wider regional conflict with Shia-dominant Iran and its proxies.

The agreement, named "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement", does not spell out the specific commitments or obligations undertaken by the three countries.

However, a joint statement said it aims to strengthen collective security and promote peace, security and



stability in the region and beyond.

According to Pakistan's Dawn, citing the Pakistan Foreign Office, the agreement is intended to strengthen "collective deterrence against any act of aggression" and "stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three".

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact in Mecca on Friday.