Saudi Arabia Turkey and Pakistan Sign Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement 10 days ago, establishing a mutual defence pact that analysts view as a diversification away from the US security umbrella.

US President Donald Trump endorsed the pact on Sunday, stating he was happy to see the countries come together to defend themselves, while Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump on Monday.

The agreement follows the US-Israel war on Iran launched on February 28, which occurred without consulting Gulf allies and exposed the limits of total reliance on US military protection.