The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, is expected to have significant effects on both regional and global geopolitics. To evaluate the significance and regional impacts of this historic agreement, the Ankara Center for Crisis and Political Studies (ANKASAM) presents below the interview with Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad.
1. Could you discuss the significance of the Mecca Agreement signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, as well as its potential geopolitical implications?
On 7 August 2026, history was made in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, when three Muslim countries–Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia–signed the joint defence agreement, The Mecca Agreement. The agreement carries great significance because all the signatories are attending friends. Pakistan-Türkiye friendship goes back to the Khilafat Movement while Saudi Arabia is a very sacred place for the people of Pakistan because of the two holy places Mecca and Madina. These relations are close, strategic and historic. The Mecca Agreement is important because it brings together 3 Muslim states with different but complementary strengths.
Saudi Arabia is a global energy producer, a financial power in the Gulf, and home to Islam’s two holiest cities. Türkiye is known for its unique location in the Eurasian region serving as a geographical bridge between Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Asia. It is undoubtedly a major regional military power and a NATO member while Pakistan is the world’s only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority country known for its strong military might and the strategic location in South Asia.
The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three. It also seeks to strengthen defence cooperation and collective deterrence. At the same time, the countries have stressed that the arrangement is defensive and is not directed against a particular country.
I believe that its importance lies in the fact that this agreement is a step towards greater regional responsibility and security. It is so because Middle East and the Gulf region is a volatile one and for a long time this region has depended heavily on outside powers for maintaining security. This agreement demonstrates the readiness of the important regional states to develop a joint security mechanism of their own. This does not necessarily mean that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye or Pakistan are abandoning any of the world’s major powers. In fact, Turkish and Saudi officials have explicitly said that the agreement does not replace their existing alliances and relationships. Therefore, we should think of Mecca Agreement as a strategic diversification.
In addition, the agreement is very likely to encourage all three countries to cooperate on joint military exercises, combating terrorism, maritime security, protection of critical infrastructure, defence technology, intelligence and other critical areas.
The Mecca Agreement has great geopolitical implications. Pakistan, Türkiye, and Suadi Arabia, each country carries great significant influence. When combined together, the influence is potentially greater because they connect three major regions, viz., Middle East or Gulf region, Eastern Mediterranean, and the South Asia. In this context, we can say that this agreement goes far beyond joint defence mechanism, it is also laying foundations for wider political and economic cooperation.
2. What will be the implications of this agreement in terms of energy and transportation corridors? How will it affect the geopolitics of the region stretching from Europe to Asia?
The Mecca Agreement does not create any energy or transportation corridor but it seeks to strengthen regional security and defence mechanism. This security cooperation will eventually lead to greater economic cooperation. We should understand it this way that enhanced security will lower the risks and earn the trust of the investors. Investors will invest in infrastructure building in these regions which will in turn strengthen trade and energy connectivity.
As we noted earlier that Saudi Arabia has 2 major potentials, energy resources and large financial resources. Türkiye’s strategic location makes it a natural a transit and logistics hub while Pakistan’s geographical location connects Gulf and Middle East with South Asia, Central Asia, Arabian Sea, and China. Besides geography, Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and CPEC are also very important. It means that Pakistan could become an important meeting point between Gulf investment, Chinese infrastructure, Turkish trade networks and South Asian markets. Simply put, Mecca Agreement does not establish routes or corridors, but greater security cooperation could make future investment in these regions more attractive.
In addition,the agreement has the potential to strengthen a Gulf–Türkiye–South Asia strategic arc. It is too early to call this partnership a new single bloc because all three countries have different interests and maintain relationships with many other powers. But the geography makes this cooperation more interesting. Europe could benefit from more secure energy and transportation routes, while the Middle East could move toward greater regional responsibility for security. At the same time, Pakistan could strengthen its role as a bridge connecting the Gulf, Central Asia,China and Europe, increasing its economic and geopolitical importance.
3. In your opinion, what consequences will this agreement have in terms of great power competition? Could you assess the issue from the perspectives of the U.S., Russia, China, and Europe?
The Mecca Agreement could have important effects on great-power competition because it may strengthen the role of regional countries. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan are not creating a bloc against either of the world’s big powers; instead, they are simply trying to become more strategically independent while maintaining relations with the United States, China, Russia, and Europe. This could contribute to a more multipolar regional order. In my opinion, the Mecca Agreement is an opportunity or a positive development for the United States. I believe that stronger regional cooperation could reduce the burden on Washington and U.S. would be able to focus on maintaining security in some other vulnerable regions. So, the United States is likely to maintain and strengthen its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan.
In case of China and Russia, again, agreement presents opportunities. China’s close ties with Pakistan and economic interests of the region point to the benefits of stronger links to the Gulf and Pakistan, and the wider Eurasian region. Russia will have to adjust itself to the changing regional balance, but the enhanced security and the regional stability will be beneficial for Russia and may create new opportunities in the future. For Europe, a more stable and connected region could bring benefits through safer energy supplies, trade routes, and transportation networks. In simple terms, the agreement could increase the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan and give them greater freedom to work with different major powers. Its positive impact will depend on whether the three countries focus on peace, stability, economic cooperation, and regional security rather than confrontation.
