Ankara: Officials have described the "Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense," signed on Friday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as a cornerstone of security cooperation in the region, not targeting any specific party or country.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the agreement aims to strengthen commitments to maintaining regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity. This is achieved through burden-sharing and the concept of shared security, enhancing collective deterrence against any hostile act. Officials noted that any armed attack targeting any of the three countries is considered an attack against all three.
They further stated that the "Mecca Agreement" is a tangible result of long-term diplomatic efforts conducted under the principle of "territorial ownership," with the goal of establishing common ground to combat escalating regional and international security threats. The agreement focuses on defense, committing the three countries to support each other's security and develop cooperation in defense industries and military interoperability.
The agreement does not imply withdrawal from any existing alliance or agreement. Instead, it complements regional security by strengthening existing alliance relationships and offers a framework for cooperation open to other regional countries. It reinforces the bonds of brotherhood among the three nations, contributing to regional and global security.
Officials highlighted that Turkey's NATO membership and regional partnerships are complementary structures facilitating burden-sharing. They emphasized that the agreement is not an offensive military front but a step towards achieving a "region free of terrorism," ensuring regional stability. The agreement affirms the commitment to collective defense, legitimate self-defense, and mutual security under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Regarding Turkey, officials consider the "Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense" historic for the region and the Islamic world, believing it has redesigned the regional security architecture. The agreement does not draw Turkey into other conflicts but combines its regional influence and expertise with powerful regional actors.
Turkey's signing of the agreement aims to diversify cooperation options amid a changing international security environment. It is expected to contribute to exports, energy supplies, and economic stability by enhancing the security of global maritime trade routes. Participation does not imply sending Turkish soldiers to every regional crisis, with decisions on military operations made within Turkey's constitutional framework.
Officials emphasized that the agreement does not affect Turkey's obligations under international agreements. They pointed out that the brotherhood extending from Anatolia to the Hijaz and from Islamabad to Riyadh represents the unity of peoples with shared values, standing together in times of hardship. They affirmed that the "Mecca Agreement" symbolizes a contemporary strategic responsibility in cooperation between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, rooted in shared history, faith, and solidarity.