Donald Trump Calls Saudi-Turkiye-Pakistan Defence Pact ‘Big, Bold’ Step; Shehbaz Sharif Welcomes Support

US President Donald Trump hailed the Saudi Arabia-Turkiye-Pakistan defence pact as a "big, bold and important first step" towards enabling the three nations to defend themselves more effectively. Signed in Makkah on August 7, the agreement establishes a framework for collective deterrence, stipulating that an attack on one country would be treated as an attack on all three.

The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Trump expressed his satisfaction on his Truth Social network, stating that the pact shows the Middle East coming together and countries being able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way.

Sharif welcomed Trump's "kind words" on the trilateral defence agreement on Monday, expressing Pakistan's commitment to continuing efforts to ensure the defense of the three countries and the wider region. He added that Pakistan will play a constructive role in the defense of its own nations and the entire region, alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkiye.

The agreement has drawn the attention of other nations, with India assessing the security implications of the pact on August 18. India remains committed to safeguarding its national interests and will take necessary measures, according to the External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.