Pak-Saudi-Turkiye Defense Pact Open to Regional Expansion, Aims for Collective Security
The defense pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, known as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, is open to other countries in the region willing to adhere to its principles. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan clarified that the agreement is purely defensive and aims to strengthen collective deterrence. The pact, signed in Makkah, allows signatory states to treat an attack on one as an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5. The agreement does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements and is consistent with the UN Charter's right to self-defense. Discussions are ongoing about potential expansion, with Egypt being a possible future member. The pact is seen as a strategic step towards regional peace and stability.