RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a joint defense agreement, under which an armed attack on any of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz in Mecca.
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Muhammad bin Salman received Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Safa Palace in Mecca, where the Mecca Summit on Joint Defense was held.
The meeting reviewed various issues including brotherly relations, common interests and defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
According to the statement, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed on the basis of the historical relations, Islamic brotherhood and common strategic interests of the three countries.
The aim of the agreement is to further strengthen the collective security of the three countries and promote peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.
According to the key clause of the agreement, an armed attack on any one of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or Turkey will be considered an attack on all three countries, while the agreement also agreed to further expand all areas of defense cooperation between the three states.
