Pakistan Says New Defense Pact With Saudi Arabia, Turkey Is Defensive
Pakistan says its new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is purely defensive and open to other countries.
Pakistan's foreign minister has described the newly signed defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey as purely defensive in nature and open to other nations in the region.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that the agreement, signed in Mecca on Friday, is not directed against any country. He added that other nations could join if they are willing to uphold its principles and resolve differences through peaceful means.
The pact was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The three countries are seeking to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Dar said the agreement's collective-defense provision is consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. He also noted that the accord does not replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had earlier said the agreement was not aimed at Iran or any other country.
The three nations bring different strengths to the arrangement. Pakistan is the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed country with extensive military experience. Saudi Arabia offers substantial economic resources and regional influence. Turkey, a NATO member, has a large military and a growing domestic defense industry.
Defense analysts in Islamabad cautioned against viewing the agreement as equivalent to NATO, despite its collective-defense provision. Analyst Abdullah Khan said the agreement should not be interpreted as being directed against Iran or another country.
Public celebrations followed the signing, with landmarks in Islamabad and Saudi cities illuminated in the colors of the three national flags.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close military ties for decades and signed a separate mutual-defense agreement in September 2025. Pakistan and Turkey have also expanded military and defense-industrial cooperation in recent years.