Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have sought to dispel concerns that the newly signed defence agreement, along with Pakistan, is aimed at creating a military alliance or sectarian bloc, stressing that the pact is intended to strengthen regional security and collective deterrence.

Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Dr Rayed Krimly said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was not directed against any country and had no connection to nuclear ambitions or an arms race.

He said the agreement was designed to build sustainable defence capabilities and strengthen collective deterrence while preserving the three countries’ existing partnerships with Gulf, Arab and international allies.

Krimly added that the pact would not replace existing bilateral or multilateral defence agreements or contribute to regional tensions.

The agreement was signed in the holy city of Makkah by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three.

The agreement also calls for expanded defence cooperation, joint defence industry projects and greater coordination in counterterrorism efforts.

Erdoğan said the agreement was not directed against any country and could serve as a broader framework for regional security cooperation.

Speaking after the signing, the Turkish president said the pact was based on the principle of collective deterrence and should not be interpreted as an alliance targeting another state.

He said the agreement remained open to the participation of “all brotherly countries” committed to promoting peace, prosperity and stability in the region.

Erdoğan said the pact also reaffirmed the three countries’ right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

He stressed that Türkiye would continue to pursue a policy of regional ownership while supporting the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with international law.

Türkiye separately rejected suggestions that the agreement conflicted with its commitments to NATO, saying the new arrangement was an additional mechanism for promoting regional security.

The Turkish government’s anti-disinformation service said the agreement was “not in contradiction” with the country’s existing international alliances, including its core commitments to NATO.

It said Türkiye’s growing regional partnerships were not an alternative to NATO membership, describing criticism of the pact as based on “baseless claims and manipulative posts”.

The agreement comes after months of speculation about a possible strategic alignment between the three countries.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defence pact in 2025, drawing particular attention because Pakistan is the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed state.

The latest agreement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Pakistan seeking to mediate efforts to end the US-Iran war and Türkiye playing a diplomatic role in efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza.

The three countries have portrayed the new pact as a mechanism for strengthening regional stability rather than forming an exclusive military bloc.