Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign Mecca defense pact with NATO-style mutual defense clause

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

The pact, formally named the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, was signed on Friday in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, on the sacred day of prayer. It binds the three signatories to mutual defense: any external armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three. Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy Raid Krimli wrote on X that the agreement reflects "the depth and long-term nature of the strategic relations between the three countries, which have developed over several decades" and represents "the culmination of detailed negotiations conducted over years." He stressed the pact does not aim to create a military axis or sectarian bloc and is not connected to nuclear ambitions or an arms race. Pakistan's foreign ministry welcomed the pact, stating it "aims to strengthen mutual deterrence against any form of aggression."

Turkey's NATO balancing act

Turkey, which hosts NATO's second-largest army and covers the alliance's eastern flank, moved quickly to reassure its Atlantic partners. The government's anti-disinformation office stated on X that the agreement "does not contradict existing international allied commitments of Turkey, including those within NATO" and constitutes "a complementary cooperation mechanism that supports regional security." President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wrote on the Turkish social platform NSosyal that the pact "does not target any country" and welcomes other friendly nations seeking peace and stability. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz called the agreement "a historic step that will contribute to the security architecture of our region." Communications director Burhanettin Duran said on X that the Mecca agreement "will strengthen the common security and collective deterrence of the three countries." Turkey hosted the NATO leaders' summit in early July 2026, attended by US President Donald Trump.

The Iran factor

Diplomats in the region told Al-Monitor there is almost no doubt the agreement aims, among other things, to counter Iran's regional influence. Saudi Arabia has faced growing threats from Iran and Iran-aligned groups in Iraq and Yemen, with Houthi rebels resuming attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and Red Sea shipping. One day before the signing, a Saudi official warned of a possible coordinated attack from north and south against critical kingdom infrastructure. Tehran has warned Gulf states that new American strikes could trigger attacks on oil installations, refineries, power grids and other strategic infrastructure. Saudi commentator Ali Shihabi, described as close to the palace, said the alliance "reflects the realization that American deterrence has weakened significantly and that the Iranian threat will have to be addressed by regional powers."

Reactions from Israel and Greece

Galia Lindenstrauss, a senior researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, assessed the pact from Israel's perspective:

“From Israel's perspective, this is a very worrying development. It adds a military dimension to a political front that has presented a steady anti-Israeli stance. It is also worrying, as both Saudi Arabia and Turkey may be considering the nuclear issue and have much to gain from close defense cooperation with Pakistan.”

Israel's relationship with Turkey, the only one of the three countries that officially recognizes the Jewish state, has been steadily deteriorating. In Athens, the agreement caused consternation, as Greece had invested diplomatic capital in building closer ties with Riyadh over the past five years, including deploying a Patriot artillery battery with over 100 personnel to protect refineries in Yanbu on the Red Sea. Greek analysts worry the pact signals Riyadh's drift away from the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), in which Greece had invested, potentially turning it into "a second East Med."