A 'Muslim NATO' could alter the regional balance of power

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif have formalized a joint defense agreement
Pic.: Reuters

Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are taking an important defense step closely related to regional security balances, Turkish Haberler reports.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif together in Jeddah have formalized a joint defense agreement.

Named the "Mecca agreement"

The agreement, which is stated to bring the three countries together under a common defense umbrella, is called the "Mecca Agreement."

It is stated that the most striking article of the pact is that an attack on one of the countries will also activate the other parties. It is expressed that the agreement envisages that if a country is attacked, the other countries will also enter the war.

Due to this feature, the agreement is evaluated by some experts as "the beginning of a Muslim NATO."

Regional developments accelerated the process

The joint defense step came at a time when wars and military tensions in the region have increased. Security pursuits gained momentum especially after the US-Iran war, which affected Gulf countries and disrupted maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

A Saudi source, who asked not to be named, stated that the agreement had been discussed for a long time, but recent developments in the region accelerated the process.

Türkiye joins the triple defense equation

Claims that Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan might establish a possible strategic alliance had been on the agenda for months.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had announced a joint defense pact in 2025. This agreement drew international attention because Pakistan is the only country in the Islamic world with nuclear weapons.

It is stated that with Türkiye's inclusion in the process, a new defense structure covering the three countries will emerge.

During the process, Pakistan tried to undertake a mediator role in efforts to end the US-Iran war, while Türkiye played a diplomatic role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

Israeli, Greek and Indian press follow closely

The rapprochement of the three countries in the defense field also resonated widely in the Israeli, Greek and Indian press.

The agreement, signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, is expected to add a new dimension to the existing security balances in the region.

It is evaluated that the triple defense structure could create a new balance in the Middle East against the US-backed 3+1 cooperation between Israel, Greece and Southern Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

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