On August 7, 2026, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a landmark joint defence agreement in Makkah, creating a new strategic alliance among three of the world's most influential Muslim nations . The Saudi Turkey Pakistan defense pact, formally known as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, stipulates that "any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all" . This collective defense clause mirrors NATO's Article 5 and represents a significant shift in Middle Eastern security architecture amid escalating regional turmoil . Why Did Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Sign a Defense Pact? The agreement was driven by heightened regional insecurity following the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, which triggered Iranian retaliation against Gulf states and disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea . Saudi Arabia, whose oil facilities and critical infrastructure have come under ...