07.08.2026 13:40
The defense agreement expected to be signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan has raised concerns in Israel, Greece, and India. The press in these three countries noted that the alliance, which combines Türkiye's military power, Pakistan's nuclear capability, and Saudi Arabia's economic strength and is interpreted as a 'Muslim NATO,' could alter the regional balance of power.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are preparing to take an important defense step closely related to regional security balances.
It was stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will come together in Jeddah to formalize a joint defense agreement.
According to information given to AFP by Saudi military and government sources, the three countries will sign the agreement, which aims to strengthen security ties in the region, on Friday.
NAMED THE "MECCA AGREEMENT"
The agreement, which is stated to bring the three countries together under a common defense umbrella, is called the "Mecca Agreement."
It is stated that the most striking article of the pact is that an attack on one of the countries will also activate the other parties. It is expressed that the agreement envisages that if a country is attacked, the other countries will also enter the war.
Due to this feature, the agreement is evaluated by some experts as "the beginning of a Muslim NATO."
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ACCELERATED THE PROCESS
The joint defense step came at a time when wars and military tensions in the region have increased. Security pursuits gained momentum especially after the US-Iran war, which affected Gulf countries and disrupted maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
A Saudi source, who asked not to be named, stated that the agreement had been discussed for a long time, but recent developments in the region accelerated the process.
A second source close to the Saudi government also confirmed that the agreement will be signed on Friday.
PAKISTANI DELEGATION WENT TO SAUDI ARABIA
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a visit that will last until Saturday.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the visit takes place between August 6 and 8.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that although the contacts were held under the shadow of rising tension in the Gulf, they carry meaning beyond momentary crises and short-term assessments.
President Erdoğan is also expected to arrive in Jeddah today.
TÜRKİYE JOINS THE TRIPLE DEFENSE EQUATION
Claims that Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan might establish a possible strategic alliance had been on the agenda for months.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had announced a joint defense pact in 2025. This agreement drew international attention because Pakistan is the only country in the Islamic world with nuclear weapons.
It is stated that with Türkiye's inclusion in the process, a new defense structure covering the three countries will emerge.
During the process, Pakistan tried to undertake a mediator role in efforts to end the US-Iran war, while Türkiye played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
ISRAELI, GREEK AND INDIAN PRESS FOLLOW CLOSELY
The rapprochement of the three countries in the defense field also resonated widely in the Israeli, Greek and Indian press.
The Jerusalem Post drew attention to the geopolitical importance of Pakistan's nuclear capacity, Saudi Arabia's economic power and Türkiye's military capacity coming together within the same structure. The newspaper evaluated the triple alliance as an attempt to create a "Muslim NATO."
Greece's ERT channel, however, drew attention to the fact that the agreement came to the agenda during a regional crisis, writing that a possible attack on Türkiye could also activate Saudi Arabia and Pakistan within the scope of the agreement.
Times of India from India, on the other hand, drew attention to the military cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan. The news stated that Türkiye produces ships for Pakistan and also contributes to the capacity of the Pakistani army in the fields of UAVs and ground forces.
MAY AFFECT REGIONAL BALANCES
The agreement, stated to be signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, is expected to add a new dimension to the existing security balances in the region.
It is evaluated that the triple defense structure could create a new balance in the Middle East against the US-backed 3+1 cooperation between Israel, Greece and Southern Cyprus in the Mediterranean.