Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey sign ‘purely defensive’ pact, open to all

Pakistan’s foreign minister said a new defence agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is “purely defensive,” not aimed at any country, and open to other nations in the region. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The three countries aim to deepen security cooperation amid rising tensions between the United States and regional powers. “This accord is not directed against anyone,” the foreign minister said, adding that other regional states are welcome to join. The agreement marks a rare formal alliance among the three Muslim-majority nations, which have often coordinated on issues such as counter-terrorism and defence training but had not previously signed a joint pact. Analysts say the move reflects a broader shift toward regional self-reliance in security matters.