WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has welcomed the recently signed defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, describing the trilateral pact as a “bold and important first step” towards stronger regional security cooperation.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump congratulated the leaders of the three countries on the agreement, saying it demonstrated that Middle Eastern countries were moving towards greater cooperation and strengthening their ability to defend themselves.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all members, establishing a collective defence framework similar in principle to NATO’s Article 5.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Trump for his positive remarks on the agreement, stressing that lasting peace and stability were essential for achieving sustainable prosperity and development in the region.
The pact comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has affected security across the Middle East and severely disrupted maritime movement through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The agreement follows a bilateral mutual defence pact signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year, under which aggression against either country would be treated as aggression against both.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has previously clarified that the trilateral defence arrangement is defensive in nature and is not directed against any particular country.
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