Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye defence cooperation signals emerging regional realignment

The recent strengthening of defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has added a new dimension

The recent strengthening of defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has added a new dimension to regional security dynamics, with the three countries moving to institutionalise their joint defence framework amid heightened tensions across the Middle East and South Asia.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be regarded as an attack against all three, while the pact also calls for enhanced defence cooperation. The countries have described the agreement as a mechanism for collective deterrence and regional stability.

The agreement has since moved beyond its initial signing. A Strategic Political and Defence Committee was established, while the three countries agreed to create a secretariat in Saudi Arabia to support implementation of the pact. The secretariat is initially to be headed by a Pakistani secretary-general for three years.

The latest development came on September 25, when the military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye met in Riyadh. Pakistan’s Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir participated in the meeting with the Saudi and Turkish military leadership. According to ISPR, the three sides expressed their determination to translate commitments under the Makkah agreement into practical military cooperation.

The emerging framework brings together three countries with significant military, economic and strategic capabilities. Türkiye is a NATO member with one of the alliance’s largest armed forces, Saudi Arabia is a major global energy producer, while Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority state. Analysts have consequently described the arrangement as a potentially important regional security grouping, although its future scope and membership remain to be determined.

Pakistan’s government has stressed that the agreement is defensive rather than directed against any particular country. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the arrangement remained open to other countries, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the agreement as a step towards regional peace and stability.

The diplomatic momentum surrounding the pact has also continued at the United Nations. On September 22, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself amid attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement. They also called for dialogue and diplomacy to address regional conflicts.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s security concerns remain closely linked to developments along its western border. Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of allowing the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups to operate from Afghan territory. Pakistan has also carried out strikes against suspected militant targets in Afghanistan. Following a September 21 operation, Pakistan said 28 militants had been killed, while Afghan authorities reported civilian casualties and condemned the strikes as violations of Afghan sovereignty.

The security situation has contributed to a broader debate over Afghanistan’s role in regional instability, including concerns about militant networks, weapons trafficking and narcotics. Pakistan has repeatedly called for stronger international action against groups operating from Afghan territory.

At the same time, reports of armed resistance against the Taliban and claims regarding casualties in Afghanistan require careful attribution. Figures circulated by opposition groups or field sources are not necessarily independently verified, and the Taliban authorities have disputed or declined to comment on several such claims.

The wider geopolitical environment is also undergoing significant change. Countries including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have increasingly sought greater regional coordination while maintaining relationships with major global powers. China, meanwhile, continues to emphasise dialogue and opposition to unilateral approaches in international affairs, although Beijing’s diplomatic position should not automatically be interpreted as formal endorsement of any new defence bloc.

The Makkah agreement therefore represents a significant development in Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye security cooperation, but whether it evolves into a wider multinational defence structure remains an open question.

For now, the three governments are concentrating on institutionalising the existing agreement, improving military coordination and strengthening defence cooperation. The Riyadh meeting of the three military chiefs and the creation of a permanent secretariat indicate that the framework is moving from a political declaration towards a more structured security partnership.