What Pakistan's defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey means for the Middle East

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have signed a new defence agreement, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, in the holy city of Mecca. The pact establishes a collective defence framework, meaning an attack on one signatory is treated as an attack on all three. This marks a significant shift for Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority state, which traditionally adopted a cautious stance as a regional mediator.

By aligning with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Islamabad now positions its armed forces as potential security guarantors in an emerging alliance spanning South Asia and the Gulf. The agreement comes amid unprecedented strain on the Middle East's traditional security order, with the US and Israeli war on Iran transforming the strategic landscape.

Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey have faced attacks linked to the regional conflict, while Islamabad and Ankara are concerned about cross-border instability. The pact also addresses Pakistan's economic vulnerabilities, as the country leverages its military strength to secure economic backing.