Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan Sign Mecca Pact

What happened

On August 7, 2026, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement in Mecca. The accord stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5, and includes joint military exercises and defense industry cooperation.

Why it matters

The agreement signals a shift away from US-led primacy and establishes a new regional security system with Turkey playing a central role. It creates a geopolitical counterweight to the Eastern Mediterranean axis of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, while excluding Egypt.