THE Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia could prove to be one of the most consequential developments in the strategic landscape of the Muslim world in recent years. On the surface, it is a defensive agreement under which an armed attack against one member is regarded as an attack against all three. But its larger significance lies in the possibility that it may become the foundation of a new regional security architecture. The agreement does not mean that the three countries have committed themselves to automatic war whenever one of them faces a security problem. Its purpose is deterrence and the nature of assistance would depend on the circumstances. Türkiye has described the mechanism as technically comparable to NATO’s Article 5, while also making clear that the agreement is not directed against Iran or any particular country.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are becoming one of the three pillars of a wider security arrangement. Saudi Arabia brings financial strength, energy resources and political influence; Türkiye contributes advanced defence technology and military capability; while Pakistan offers extensive military experience, defence capacity and strategic deterrence. This combination could enhance Pakistan’s regional influence and alter the calculations of any country contemplating military action against it. India, in particular, may have........

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