ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump on Sunday welcomed a new defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, saying it marked an important step toward greater regional cooperation amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran.
Trump praised the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in a post on Truth Social, saying the pact showed that Middle Eastern countries were coming together and would be better able to defend themselves. The agreement was signed in Makkah on Aug. 7 by the leaders of the three countries.
“Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement,” Trump wrote.
He described the agreement as a “BIG, BOLD, IMPORTANT FIRST STEP” and congratulated the leaders of the three countries.
Under the agreement, an attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three, establishing a framework for collective defense.
The pact also calls for greater political and military coordination, including cooperation in defense industries. Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said the three countries would establish political and military mechanisms under the agreement.
Read More: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye sign Makkah Joint Defense Pact
The deal comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, including the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran and attacks by Iran-aligned groups in the region.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have also been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions.
Pakistan has said the agreement is defensive and is not directed against any country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the arrangement is open to other countries that are willing to uphold its principles and resolve disputes through peaceful means.
The agreement builds on existing defense ties among the three countries. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a separate Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement in September 2025, while Pakistan and Türkiye have expanded military cooperation in recent years, including in defense production and training.
Türkiye has indicated that other countries could eventually join the arrangement.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Egypt could join at a later stage, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the initiative was not limited to the three founding members. Egypt has not publicly confirmed whether it plans to join.
Erdogan said he hoped the arrangement would eventually expand to include other countries in the region.
Iran has responded positively to the agreement and has not described it as a threat.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said there was no reason for Tehran to be concerned and welcomed regional security mechanisms based on cooperation among Middle Eastern countries.
Baghaei said such arrangements could contribute to regional stability if they were inclusive and addressed the security concerns of countries in the region.
Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia are among the other countries that have welcomed the agreement.
The agreement gives Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye a new framework for closer military coordination, as regional countries seek greater responsibility for their own security.
Its long-term impact will depend on how the three countries implement the agreement and whether other regional states join.
The pact also adds another layer to the region’s evolving security landscape as Middle Eastern countries respond to continuing geopolitical tensions.
