PAKISTAN SAYS NEW DEFENSE PACT WITH SAUDI AND TURKEY IS ‘PURELY DEFENSIVE’ AND OPEN TO OTHERS

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have signed a trilateral defense agreement, known as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, with Pakistan's Foreign Minister stating it is 'purely defensive in nature'. The agreement was signed on Friday by the leaders of the three countries, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This development comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, according to Associated Press.

The agreement is open to other nations in the region, provided they are willing to uphold its principles and resolve differences through peaceful means, as stated by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also emphasized that the agreement is not aimed at Iran or any other country. The details of the agreement have not been fully disclosed, but it reflects a shared desire to strengthen strategic security cooperation among the three nations.

The signing of this agreement is significant as it deepens security cooperation among the three countries and may have implications for regional dynamics, particularly amidst heightened US-Iran tensions. The move may also impact Israel's hopes for normalization with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as noted by an expert in The Jerusalem Post.

• Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed a trilateral defense agreement
• The agreement is described as 'purely defensive in nature'
• The agreement is open to other nations in the region

Read the original source for full detail available at Associated Press src