Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Defence Pact Could Expand to Iran and Other Muslim Nations

Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Defence Pact Could Expand to Iran and Other Muslim Nations

The defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could eventually develop into a wider security framework involving other Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, according to Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus. His comments have placed renewed attention on the future scope of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which was signed by the three countries in August 2026. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7, 2026.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is regarded as an attack against all three. The provision has been compared with NATO's collective-defence principle, although the exact mechanisms for implementing the agreement are still being developed. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has described the accord as defensive in nature and said it is not directed against any particular country. 

Speaking to reporters in Ankara on September 25, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said the agreement should not be viewed as an alliance against Iran. He said Ankara hoped the agreement could eventually become a broader arrangement “for the Muslim world” and specifically indicated that Iran could potentially join it. He also said other regional countries could participate in the future.

However, Iran's participation is not currently part of the existing agreement. Kurtulmus's comments represent a possible future expansion rather than a confirmed decision by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Iran. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry had previously stated in September that expansion was not immediately on the agenda because the three founding members first needed to establish and strengthen the organisation. It added that membership could later be considered for countries with similar security perceptions and requirements.

The agreement itself is also still moving through institutional procedures. Kurtulmus said the pact had not yet been submitted to the Turkish parliament and was expected to come before lawmakers after parliament returns from recess in October. International agreements require parliamentary approval in Türkiye before they can formally take effect there. 

The timing of the discussion is significant because regional security tensions have increased. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have also been strengthening military coordination. Their military chiefs recently discussed closer cooperation, including intelligence sharing, military coordination and capability integration, according to statements reported by Reuters. 

Türkiye has repeatedly emphasized that the defence agreement is not directed against Iran or another specific country. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan previously said the pact does not identify a common adversary and described the agreement as a framework for collective security and deterrence.

If the Makkah agreement eventually expands, its structure and membership would need to be negotiated among the participating countries. Questions about command arrangements, military obligations, decision-making and the precise circumstances requiring assistance would also become increasingly important.

For now, the confirmed framework remains a three-country agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The possibility of expanding it to Iran and other Muslim nations is a proposal under discussion, not an accomplished expansion. The coming parliamentary process in Türkiye and further consultations among the three founding members will provide greater clarity about the agreement's future direction.

 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan)