Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have underscored the significance of the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, framing the landmark trilateral pact as a crucial step toward establishing collective deterrence, peace, and long-term security in the region.
The defence pact, signed last week between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, establishes a mutual defence framework containing a collective security mechanism where an attack on one signatory is viewed as an attack on all. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, President Erdogan emphasized that the agreement arose from new regional realities and expressed hope that more regional partners would join the coalition.
“Our vision for it is not limited to the three countries,” President Erdogan stated, advocating for regional ownership in resolving disputes without outside formulas. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that discussions are underway for potential expansion, expecting Egypt to join in subsequent phases. The pact has already drawn endorsement from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), alongside positive responses from regional nations including Kuwait, Bahrain, Somalia, and Iran.
In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated to the federal cabinet that the pact is strictly defensive in nature, focused on fostering peace, economic progress, and strategic stability across the Middle East and South Asia.
Meanwhile, during high-level bilateral talks in Ankara, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the defence agreement as an essential contribution to regional security. During their meeting, President Erdogan condemned ongoing aggression against Palestine, affirming Turkiye’s steadfast commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state. Both leaders highlighted the vital role of regional unity and internal Palestinian reconciliation through planned democratic processes to navigate current geopolitical challenges.
