Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca, marking a significant step in regional security cooperation amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran. The pact, signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to strengthen mutual defence and counter regional threats (euronews.com). The agreement comes as the US has intensified sanctions against Iran, including targeting a Dubai-based crypto-exchange linked to Iranian financial activities (aljazeera.com).
The new alliance, described as NATO-style, has also reignited discussions around Pakistan’s arms deals with Sudan and Libya, which Saudi Arabia had previously sought to block due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict (africa.businessinsider.com). With Saudi oil infrastructure increasingly under threat, analysts warn of potential prolonged supply disruptions and rising regional instability (thehindubusinessline.com).
The agreement underscores growing concerns over the security landscape in the Middle East, with airlines like Turkish Airlines continuing to operate profitably despite the conflict, highlighting resilience in the region’s transport sector (travelandtourworld.com).
