India on Friday said that it is closely following the development after Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a joint trilateral defence agreement,
under which an attack against any of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all. The development has come amid escalating tensions in West Asia. "This is also a development that we are closely following, and we shall keep you updated," MEA informed during the weekly presser. The agreement - 'Makkah Joint Defence Agreement' - was signed by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca, according to a joint statement. The agreement, signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, is "intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” it added. It further provides for the "enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States," the statement said. The development comes at a time when the West Asia conflict has widened across multiple fronts, including the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, prompting Gulf states to strengthen regional security coordination. Sharif had visited Saudi Arabia in April, during which he had held talks with the Kingdom's top leadership. Last week, Saudi Arabia proposed a Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC) to safeguard commercial shipping lanes and critical energy supply routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after Saudi ships came under attack from Iran-backed Yemen's Houthis. Fourteen countries, including Pakistan, expressed support for the initiative, underscoring growing concerns over the security of one of the world's most vital maritime corridors, according to reports. Also, Pakistan last week said it is “doing its utmost” to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 18. The Makkah agreement reflects "the three States' shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future," the statement said. In September last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had signed the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement”, pledging that any attack on either country would be treated as an “act of aggression against both.” Under the defence framework, Pakistan deployed military personnel and aircraft to Saudi Arabia to support joint training, defence cooperation and the kingdom's security requirements. The joint statement said that the Makkah agreement is "guided by the longstanding historical ties among the three states, based on the enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and building upon their shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation." During Friday's summit, the three sides reviewed their ties and discussed several issues of mutual interest. Before the summit, Prime Minister Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, who arrived here on a three-day official visit on Thursday, met the Saudi crown prince, the prime minister's office said. Sharif was also accompanied by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, among others, it said. "Although taking place amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit carries significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations. It will further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest and also reinforce multilateral cooperation,” the Foreign Office had said on Thursday. With inputs from PTI
