Baghdad: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have signed a trilateral defense cooperation agreement in Mecca.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the agreement stipulates that any armed attack against any of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three. The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against all forms of aggression. It also calls for the development of defense cooperation among the three countries in all its dimensions.

The signing of the agreement, as stated in the release, reflects the three countries' commitment to enhancing their shared security and achieving security, peace, and stability in the region and the world, striving towards a more secure and prosperous future.

Observers believe the agreement is the culmination of continuous political and diplomatic efforts, amidst regional developments and escalating concerns related to regional security and the safety of maritime routes. It was the most prominent issue at the Mecca summit, and work on it continued for approximately two years, encompassing ongoing technical and political meetings.

The agreement also differs from existing bilateral defense agreements, such as the Saudi-Pakistani defense pact, as it establishes a trilateral defense framework encompassing Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad. This framework is based on the principle of collective defense, whereby an attack on one of the three countries is considered an attack on the entire system.

According to sources, the establishment of a secretariat and headquarters to manage and organize the cooperation may be announced in the near future, with Riyadh initially being considered as a proposed location for this framework.