US President Donald Trump has welcomed the recently signed defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing it as a significant step towards stronger regional security cooperation.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was pleased that the three countries had signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, saying the pact showed that countries in the Middle East were moving towards greater cooperation in defending themselves. He described the agreement as a “BIG, BOLD, IMPORTANT FIRST STEP”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for his supportive remarks and said Pakistan would continue working with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to strengthen the defence and security of the three countries as well as the wider region.
Shehbaz also praised Trump for what he called his “courageous and decisive leadership” in helping prevent a potential nuclear crisis in South Asia during last year’s brief military conflict between Pakistan and India. He stressed that lasting peace was essential for regional prosperity.
The agreement, signed on August 7 in Makkah, seeks to strengthen collective deterrence among the three countries. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the signatories would be considered an attack against all three.
Turkiye has said the agreement will lead to the creation of political and military mechanisms and greater cooperation between the countries’ defence industries. Pakistani officials have repeatedly emphasised that the pact is defensive and is not aimed at aggression against any country.
Turkish officials have also indicated that the agreement could eventually expand to include other regional states. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan previously said Egypt could join at a later stage, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped the pact would eventually bring more countries under its framework.
Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia have welcomed the agreement, while Iran has also responded positively, highlighting its support for regional security arrangements based on cooperation among countries in the region.
