Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, aims to establish collective deterrence against aggression.
The agreement was signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif. These three countries complement each other from various strategic angles: Türkiye stands out as a pioneer in the defence industry and an influential regional actor; Saudi Arabia possesses immense financial capacity; and Pakistan holds nuclear capability.
Amid the escalating war in the Middle East–where a conflict no longer affects only regional states but has global ramifications–the need for concrete steps became evident. Moving to adapt to the emerging international order, these three states convened to sign the Makkah Agreement, a pact poised to impact a vast geopolitical expanse.
The cornerstone clause of the agreement, which establishes collective deterrence, is particularly notable. This clause stipulates that an armed attack directed against any of the three states will be recognized as an attack against all of them. Citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Türkiye reaffirms its inherent right to individual or collective self-defence to ensure mutual security.
Furthermore, the collective deterrence principle embodied in this clause reflects one of the foundational pillars of NATO, of which Türkiye is a member. However, officials emphasize that the Makkah Agreement serves as a complement to NATO rather than an alternative. Addressing claims that the treaty conflicts with NATO’s Article 5, the Directorate of Communications released a statement summarizing the objectives of the pact:
“The agreement does not contradict Türkiye’s existing international alliance commitments, including NATO; on the contrary, it constitutes a complementary cooperation mechanism that supports regional security. Türkiye’s development of regional partnerships is not an alternative to its NATO membership.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is not an aggressive military bloc, but a defense-oriented arrangement aimed at enhancing deterrence. The agreement does not target any third country or bloc; it aims to strengthen defense industry cooperation, joint military training, technology sharing, and regional stability.”
Türkiye underlined that the Makkah Agreement is not aimed at any third party. The expanding cooperation among these three nations in recent years has culminated in a formal defense alliance. The agreement also remains open to the accession of other countries.
