Makkah Defence Pact Binds Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye for at Least 10 Years

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have agreed to a long-term mutual defence framework under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which prevents any signatory from withdrawing during the first 10 years after the agreement enters into force.

The pact, signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, establishes a collective defence arrangement under which an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three. Türkiye has submitted the agreement to its parliament for ratification, while Pakistan has reportedly completed its domestic approval process.

The agreement aims to strengthen regional deterrence and expand cooperation in defence production, intelligence sharing, logistics, military technology and counterterrorism. Its provisions could deepen security ties among the three countries as regional tensions continue.

What Is the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement?

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a trilateral security arrangement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. It seeks to strengthen cooperation against external aggression and improve the participating countries’ ability to respond to threats affecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The agreement was signed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

One of its central provisions states that an armed attack against one signatory will be considered an attack against all three. The agreement also commits the parties to provide assistance using the measures available to them, with the nature and scope of support determined after assessing the assistance required.

This creates a framework for collective defence, although the practical response to a particular incident would depend on the agreement’s terms, the circumstances of the attack and the decisions of the participating governments.

Why Is the Pact Binding for the First 10 Years?

A key provision of the agreement prevents any of the three signatories from withdrawing during the first 10 years after the pact enters into force.

According to the agreement’s reported text, the arrangement will remain in force indefinitely. After the initial 10-year period, a country seeking to withdraw must provide the other members with at least three months’ written notice through diplomatic channels.

This means the 10-year provision is a minimum commitment period, not an automatic expiry date.

The agreement’s entry-into-force provisions are also important. The pact is reported to become effective when the ratification documents are deposited with its designated secretariat in Riyadh. Türkiye’s parliamentary ratification remains a key step in its formal approval process.

The distinction between signing and entry into force matters. The agreement’s 10-year period should not automatically be counted from the signing date unless the treaty’s legal provisions establish that date as the commencement point.

What Happens if One Country Is Attacked?

The agreement establishes a principle of collective defence: an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three.

Under the reported text, the signatories are expected to provide assistance to the country under attack using the available measures at their disposal. The three governments would assess the circumstances and determine the scope and nature of the support required.

That assistance could involve different forms of military or security cooperation. However, the agreement should not be interpreted as automatically requiring an identical military response in every situation or as specifying that all three countries must immediately deploy combat troops.

The pact refers to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognises the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence in the event of an armed attack.

The exact response to any future incident would depend on the agreement’s terms, the facts of the situation and the decisions taken by the participating states.

Türkiye Moves the Agreement Toward Parliamentary Ratification

Türkiye has submitted the agreement to its parliament for ratification, moving the country closer to formal approval of its mutual defence commitments.

The agreement is expected to be referred to parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee for consideration. Parliamentary approval is required under Türkiye’s domestic process for this agreement.

Türkiye’s participation is particularly significant because of its established defence industry, including capabilities in military technology, weapons systems and defence equipment.

However, Turkish officials have indicated that the agreement is defensive in nature. A Turkish official told Reuters that Ankara’s expected contribution could focus on military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems.

Türkiye’s constitution also requires separate parliamentary authorisation for deploying troops abroad. Consequently, the defence pact does not automatically mean that Turkish forces can be sent to another country without the required domestic approval.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s Role in the Alliance

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already have longstanding defence and security ties. The trilateral agreement adds Türkiye to a broader framework for cooperation among the three countries.

Pakistan brings established military capabilities and defence experience, while Saudi Arabia has significant financial resources and strategic importance in the Gulf. Türkiye contributes a developed defence industry and expertise in military equipment and technology.

The arrangement is intended to combine these strengths through greater coordination and a shared commitment to regional security.

Pakistan has reportedly completed its domestic ratification process. The agreement’s formal entry into force, however, depends on the treaty’s specified procedures for depositing ratification documents.

Defence Industry, Intelligence Sharing and Counterterrorism

The agreement extends beyond a mutual defence commitment. It also envisages closer cooperation across several areas of security and military development.

These include:

• Defence production: Greater cooperation in developing and manufacturing military equipment.
• Intelligence sharing: Improved coordination in identifying and assessing security threats.
• Logistics: Support for military cooperation through logistical arrangements.
• Military technology: Collaboration in research, development and advanced defence capabilities.
• Counterterrorism: Cooperation against terrorism, including operational coordination where appropriate.
• Training and joint capabilities: Efforts to improve coordination and readiness among participating institutions.

Such cooperation could create opportunities for joint projects, technology exchange and more coordinated security planning. The scale and implementation of these initiatives will depend on subsequent agreements, available resources and decisions by the three governments.

Is the Makkah Pact a New NATO-Style Alliance?

The agreement has drawn comparisons with NATO because it treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all.

However, the comparison should be made carefully. NATO has its own treaty structure, institutions, established military planning arrangements and long-standing mechanisms for cooperation among its members.

The Makkah agreement establishes a collective defence commitment among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, but it should not automatically be described as an equivalent of NATO. Its institutional arrangements, operational procedures and practical implementation will determine how the partnership develops.

The pact’s reported provision for assessing the assistance required also means that the nature of support in a particular situation must be considered within the agreement’s terms rather than assumed in advance.

What Could the Agreement Mean for Regional Security?

The agreement could strengthen deterrence by making potential aggressors consider the possibility of a coordinated response from three countries with different military and economic capabilities.

It may also encourage closer defence-industry links, improved intelligence coordination and more regular security consultations.

At the same time, its practical significance will depend on how the signatories implement their commitments, complete domestic approval procedures and develop joint mechanisms for responding to threats.

The agreement is defensive in its stated purpose and does not, by itself, establish that the three countries have identified a particular state as an adversary.

Conclusion

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement establishes a long-term security framework linking Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Its reported terms prevent withdrawal during the first 10 years after entry into force and provide for an indefinite duration thereafter, subject to the agreement’s withdrawal provisions.

The pact treats an armed attack against one signatory as an attack against all and provides for cooperation in defence production, intelligence sharing, logistics, military technology and counterterrorism.

Türkiye’s parliamentary ratification and the completion of the agreement’s formal entry-into-force procedures remain important steps. How effectively the pact strengthens regional security will ultimately depend on how the three governments translate its commitments into practical cooperation.

Editorial note: This article summarises published reporting on the agreement’s text and ratification process. The 10-year period is described as running from entry into force, not automatically from the signing date. Confirm treaty status and any subsequent amendments through official government or parliamentary sources before publication.