The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, describing it as an important step towards strengthening regional security and cooperation.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed “strong appreciation and support” for the agreement, calling it an “important strategic step” that reflects the three countries’ commitment to greater regional and international cooperation, according to an OIC statement.

Taha said the agreement could serve as a “fundamental pillar” for promoting security and stability across the region and the Muslim world.

He said the pact demonstrated a shared determination to address growing security challenges while strengthening solidarity and constructive partnerships among OIC member states.

The OIC chief also praised the leadership of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan in reaching what he described as a “historic agreement”, expressing hope that it would contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.

The three countries signed the agreement on Friday during a trilateral summit at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.

It was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The agreement seeks to deepen defence cooperation, strengthen collective security and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.

According to Turkish officials, the pact is a defence-focused cooperation framework that does not target any country and is aimed at strengthening the three countries’ commitments to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity through burden-sharing and a common security approach.

The agreement also seeks to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three.