MAKKAH: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed a joint defence agreement aimed at strengthening regional peace, security and collective defence cooperation during a joint defence summit held at Al Safa Palace in Makkah.
The summit was attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, the three countries signed a joint defence agreement named the Makkah Defence Joint Agreement. The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The spokesperson said that under the agreement, an attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three. The agreement aims to strengthen collective defence capabilities against any aggression and promote defence cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia a day earlier with a Pakistani delegation, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Makkah on the same day the summit was held.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement to further strengthen regional peace, security and collective defence.
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The ministry stated that the agreement was signed during the Makkah Joint Defence Summit, which was held at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The summit, held at Al Safa Palace in Makkah, brought together Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, the three leaders discussed bilateral relations, defence cooperation and key challenges facing the region.
According to the joint communiqué, the agreement is based on the historic relations among the three countries, Islamic brotherhood, shared strategic interests and long-term defence cooperation.
Under the agreement, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collective defence capabilities and working together to promote peace, security and stability.
A key provision of the agreement states that if any one of the three countries comes under armed attack, it will be regarded as an attack on all three countries. The leaders also agreed to further expand defence cooperation, joint strategic coordination and security ties.
The joint communiqué added that the agreement is intended to enhance collective defence capabilities against any aggression and contribute to the promotion of peace and stability across the region as well as globally.
