Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a joint defence pact in Mecca on Aug. 7 [1].
The agreement arrives as regional volatility increases, specifically regarding tensions between the U.S. and Iran and Iranian missile activity targeting Gulf oil exporters [1, 5].
The pact establishes a framework for mutual military assistance among the three nations [1]. While the agreement is trilateral, some reports emphasize the bilateral nature of the security bond between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan [2, 3].
A significant and controversial component of the deal involves nuclear capabilities. Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad said Pakistan's nuclear program "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if needed under the new defence pact [4].
This provision marks a departure from previous regional security norms. Other reports indicate that while the pact includes nuclear-armed Pakistan, the specific sharing of nuclear resources is not extended to Turkey [3].
The signing ceremony took place last Friday in Mecca [1]. The three nations intend for the alliance to strengthen regional security and create a collective deterrent against external threats [1, 5].
“Pakistan's nuclear program "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if needed”
This pact signals a strategic shift in the Middle East and South Asia, reducing reliance on Western security guarantees. By potentially linking Saudi Arabia to Pakistan's nuclear umbrella, the agreement alters the deterrence balance in the Gulf, specifically in response to Iranian influence and missile capabilities.
