US President Donald Trump has praised the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing it as a significant and encouraging development for the region.
Writing on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said the pact demonstrated how nations in the Middle East were uniting to “defend themselves in a more meaningful way.” He congratulated the leaders of all three countries, calling the agreement “a big, bold, and important first step.”
Background to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
The pact was formalized on August 7 during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit, bringing together Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The agreement establishes a collective defence clause: an armed attack on any one member state will be treated as an attack on all three, a structure similar to NATO’s Article 5.
This trilateral arrangement builds on an earlier bilateral defence agreement Pakistan signed with Saudi Arabia a year prior, under which any act of aggression against either nation would be considered an attack on both.
The timing of the deal is closely tied to escalating regional tensions. Since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, several Gulf nations have been drawn into the fallout, and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, prompting regional powers to reassess their security arrangements.
Pakistan and Turkiye Clarify the Pact’s Purpose
Speaking at a federal cabinet meeting on August 10, PM Shehbaz Sharif addressed concerns about the agreement’s intent, stating clearly that the trilateral pact was not designed as a tool of aggression against any nation. Instead, he framed it as a mechanism to advance peace, security and prosperity across the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar echoed this sentiment in a post on X, describing the agreement as defensive in character. He noted that the accord reflected longstanding fraternal ties between the three nations and represented years of coordinated diplomatic effort to address shared security concerns. Dar also confirmed that membership in the pact remains open to other countries that share its founding principles.
Egypt Could Be Next to Join
In a separate development, President Erdogan suggested that Egypt might be the next country to join the alliance. Speaking to Al Jazeera’s Ali Al Dafiri on the program Al Muqabala, Erdogan said Cairo’s potential membership was among several options currently under discussion as the bloc looks to grow.
“This agreement has sent an important message to the world,” Erdogan said, adding that the pact remains open to further expansion.
Shehbaz Thanks Trump for His Support
PM Shehbaz responded to Trump’s remarks with a post on X, thanking the US president for his “kind words of support.” He reiterated that Pakistan, alongside Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, would continue to play a constructive role in safeguarding both the three nations and the broader region.
Shehbaz also credited Trump for what he called “courageous and decisive leadership” in helping avert a nuclear crisis in South Asia, saying the intervention had saved countless lives. He added that lasting peace remained the most essential foundation for a stable and prosperous future.