Trump Welcomes Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Defence Pact as ‘Big, Bold’ Step

WASHINGTON, Aug 17: US President Donald Trump has welcomed the newly signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, describing the pact as a major step toward greater regional security cooperation.

In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said he was “very happy” to see the three countries sign the agreement and praised the leadership of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.

Trump said the agreement showed that countries in the Middle East were coming together and would be better positioned to defend themselves. He described the pact as a “big, bold, and important first step.”

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three signatories is to be regarded as an attack against all three, establishing a mutual-defence commitment similar in principle to NATO’s collective-defence framework.

The agreement also provides for closer political and military coordination, joint exercises and greater cooperation in defence industries and technology. Turkey has said the framework is open to further members, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently indicating that Egypt could potentially join.

Trump’s endorsement comes as the region faces heightened security tensions and growing efforts by Middle Eastern countries to strengthen regional defence cooperation. The agreement has been presented by its members as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence.

The pact marks a significant development in the security relationship between Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad and reflects a broader push toward greater regional coordination in defence and security affairs.