Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia will form political, military mechanisms to coordinate under defence pact, Ankara says

Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have agreed to establish political and military coordination mechanisms through a new defense pact, according to Turkey's defense ministry. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East following the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has strained regional cooperation and disrupted shipping lanes.

The alliance aims to deepen defense industry cooperation and increase military interoperability, with representatives from the defense ministers, foreign ministers, and military chiefs of the three countries involved. The defense ministry announced plans for joint military exercises and potential joint production and technology sharing within the defense sector.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that more countries would join the agreement, with the Turkish leader stating that the vision for the pact extends beyond the initial three signatories. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated that Egypt is expected to join the pact in the future, although technical issues need to be addressed.

Egypt has not yet commented on the agreement. Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia have welcomed the pact, while Iran has taken a more positive stance, emphasizing the need for security mechanisms based on regional cooperation. Turkish Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed that the defense pact is solely defensive in nature and not intended for any form of aggression.