Trump hails Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defense pact as Middle East 'uniting'

Trump's response

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday, August 16, that he was "very happy" about a defense agreement signed on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Writing on Truth Social, Trump offered his congratulations and said the deal shows the Middle East is uniting.

shows that the Middle East is uniting and these countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more substantial way

The three signatory states are all considered allies of Washington. The agreement was signed in Saudi Arabia, with one Greek outlet, in.gr, referring to it as the "Mecca Agreement." Trump's remarks came nine days after the pact was signed, against the backdrop of attacks on the Sunni kingdom and the broader war in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia's security pressures

Saudi Arabia sought to strengthen its security alliances after becoming a target of Iranian retaliatory strikes carried out in response to US bombings. The kingdom has found itself on the front line of regional escalation, facing threats from multiple directions. Riyadh simultaneously confronts a resurgence of hostilities in Yemen, where it supports the internationally recognized government in its fight against Ansarallah, a Shia movement also known by the family name of its leaders, the Houthis, which is aligned with Tehran. The Houthis, like Iran's other regional partners, have contributed to the barrage of unmanned aerial systems and ballistic missiles targeting the Gulf monarchies. The combination of these threats has pushed Riyadh to seek new security partnerships beyond its traditional reliance on the United States, culminating in the August 7 agreement signed on Saudi soil.

Mediation and the US-Iran war

Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share support for mediation efforts aimed at ending the war between the United States and Iran. All three countries have backed diplomatic initiatives to bring the conflict to a close, a position that reflects their broader interest in regional stability and their exposure to the conflict's spillover effects. The agreement comes as the US-Iran war continues to reshape alliances across the region, with Iran and its allies launching unmanned aerial systems and ballistic missiles against the Gulf petro-monarchies. The three signatories' backing of mediation distinguishes them from direct belligerents and positions them as potential intermediaries in any future settlement of the conflict.

Analysts see a pivot away from Washington

Analysts cited in the Greek-language reports view the agreement as a mechanism for the signatory countries to distance themselves from the United States, which is increasingly seen as an unreliable ally in the region. These analysts argue that Washington has been unable to halt the full range of drones and ballistic missiles being launched by Iran and its regional allies against the Gulf states. The US, in this assessment, cannot stop the array of unmanned aerial systems and missiles deployed by Iran and its partners across the region. The pact, in this reading, represents a hedge by three key regional players against what they perceive as waning American security guarantees, as each signatory seeks greater autonomy in securing its own territory and interests.