Makkah Joint Defence Agreement Sets New Path for Regional Security Cooperation

ANKARA – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have entered a fresh chapter of military cooperation through the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The deal ties the three nations together in a mutual protection promise, meaning an attack on one will now be treated as an attack on all.

The agreement was formalized on August 7 during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan all attended the historic signing.

Turkiye’s defence ministry shared more details during a weekly briefing held in Ankara. Officials explained that the main purpose of the pact is to build stronger, more organized, and long-lasting military ties between the three countries.

Under this new framework, top officials from each nation will meet regularly. This includes defence ministers, foreign ministers, and military chiefs. The goal is to keep coordination running smoothly at the highest levels of government.

Beyond meetings, the countries also plan to conduct joint military drills. These exercises will cover land, sea, and air operations. Air defence systems and unmanned technologies will also be part of the training.

Focus on Technology and Joint Production

Defence industry cooperation is another major piece of this agreement. Rather than simply buying and selling weapons, the three nations aim to develop and manufacture equipment together.

This includes sharing technology, offering long-term maintenance support, and building joint logistics systems. Special attention will go toward drones, autonomous systems, electronic warfare tools, and artificial intelligence.

Room to Grow: Could Egypt Join Next?

Turkiye currently holds NATO’s second-largest military force. Officials have made clear that this new pact is not meant to compete with existing alliances. Instead, it’s designed to grow over time, with Egypt seen as a likely future member.

President Erdogan expressed hope that more nations would eventually join the group. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said the vision extends beyond just three countries and could one day welcome the wider region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed this sentiment, stating that Egypt could join during the “next stage” of the agreement. He mentioned that only a few technical matters remain unresolved.

Fidan is scheduled to visit Cairo this Thursday and Friday, where further discussions may take place. So far, Egypt has not issued any public statement regarding the pact or Fidan’s comments.

Regional Security Talks Continue

Alongside this pact, Turkiye is also taking part in separate discussions in Jeddah. These talks focus on forming an international coalition to safeguard shipping routes through the Red Sea, another sign of growing regional cooperation on security matters.

As tensions and shifting alliances continue to shape the Middle East, this new defence agreement marks a significant step toward deeper unity among Muslim-majority nations.