Makkah joint defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye amid stalled US‑Iran war.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on a Friday. The pact says an attack on one member is an attack on all. The agreement arrived when the U.S.‑Iran war remains at a stalemate. In the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the deal historic, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it is open to friendly nations. The alliance is not an ‘Islamic NATO’. It follows earlier efforts, such as the 2015 Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, which did not link to major operations. Pakistani‑Saudi defence ties run back decades; the new pact merely solidifies those ties and brings Turkey in. Saudi Deputy Minister clarified that the agreement is not intended to create a military axis or a sectarian bloc. An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said increased regional cooperation could secure security. If the U.S.–Iran war continues and hostilities rise, the new alliance could be tested, particularly if Tehran resumes attacks on pro‑America Gulf states. The pact aims to reduce tensions among Muslim states rather than be used against any Muslim country.