ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said the Makkah Defence Alliance with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is defensive in nature and that there are currently no plans to expand the grouping, amid renewed attention on the pact following escalating fighting in Yemen and attacks on Saudi territory.
The agreement, signed in Makkah on August 7, commits the three countries to strengthen collective deterrence and states that an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all three. Pakistan has repeatedly maintained that the arrangement is not directed against any particular country and is intended to support regional security and stability.
The alliance was further institutionalised at its first Strategic Political and Defence Committee meeting in Istanbul on August 31, where the three states agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan will initially provide the secretary-general for a three-year term.
The latest clarification comes after speculation that additional regional countries could eventually join the pact. Pakistani officials had previously said the agreement could, in principle, remain open to countries willing to accept its collective obligations, although no formal applications had been announced.
The issue has gained renewed urgency after Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said this week that a serious spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi territory could activate Pakistan’s obligations under the agreement, while stressing that the pact itself remains defensive.
The three members have also agreed to deepen cooperation between their armed forces, including joint activities, defence-industry collaboration and technology development.