‘Mecca Pact’: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Defence Agreement — Is an ‘Islamic NATO’ Emerging?
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a landmark defence pact in Mecca — a symbolic choice of venue that has sparked global attention. The agreement commits the three countries to jointly respond to any external attack against any signatory state. The move is widely seen as a step towards a regional security system, reflecting a growing desire for self‑reliance in the Middle East and a waning trust in the US‑led security framework.
The new alliance combines complementary strengths: Saudi Arabia’s vast financial resources, Turkey’s powerful military (the second‑largest in NATO), and Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent (with an estimated 200 warheads). In early September, the partners took concrete steps to institutionalise the pact by establishing its secretariat in Riyadh, with a Pakistani national appointed as its first head.
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Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a landmark defence pact in Mecca — a symbolic choice of venue that has sparked global attention. The agreement commits the three countries to jointly respond to any external attack against any signatory state. The move is widely seen as a step towards a regional security system, reflecting a growing desire for self‑reliance in the Middle East and a waning trust in the US‑led security framework.
The new alliance combines complementary strengths: Saudi Arabia’s vast financial resources, Turkey’s powerful military (the second‑largest in NATO), and Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent (with an estimated 200 warheads). In early September, the partners took concrete steps to institutionalise the pact by establishing its secretariat in Riyadh, with a Pakistani national appointed as its first head.
Subscribe for Where it's hot|Geopolitics