Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a landmark defence agreement last Friday that would treat an attack on one country as an attack on all three, according to AP News.

Saudi Crow Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement in the Saudi holy city of Mecca. The agreement allows for “the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states,” according to AP News.

The so-called “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement” brings together three Sunni Muslim-majority countries with significant, but differing, capabilities. Saudi Arabia brings economic strength and regional influence, Turkey has the second-largest military in N.A.T.O., and Pakistan possesses nuclear capabilities. Amid rising regional instability and security concerns, the agreement represents a significant development in the Middle East, according to AP News.

The agreement also comes amid rising tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza and regional conflicts with Iran and Lebanon.

Iran and its allies have also launched attacks on strategic targets in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and have blockaded their shipments after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, according to B.B.C. News.

Despite the agreement’s collective-defence provisions, which are similar to Article five of the N.A.T.O. treaty, defence analysts cautioned against viewing the agreement as equivalent to N.A.T.O. Abdullah Khan, an Islamabad-based defence analyst, said that although the agreement was signed during a period of heightened regional tensions, it should not be interpreted as being directed against Iran or another country, according to B.B.C. News.

“The Makkah [Mecca] Accord does not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries, or with other countries or organizations,” Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar wrote, later adding that the arrangement is “purely defensive,” according to statements released by his office. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif also described the agreement as a “historic pact” that would serve as a “shield of peace” for the three countries, and the wider Muslim community.

“The agreement, which also reaffirms the right of defence as defined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, targets no country and is open to the participation of all brotherly countries that aim for the peace, prosperity, and stability of our region,” Turkish President Erdogan said on X.

The Mecca Defence Agreement also reflects a broader transformation in the Middle Eastern security order. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Saudi Arabia’s decision to strengthen its security relationship with Turkey and Pakistan demonstrates growing concerns about the reliability of the United States as a regional security partner. Rather than relying exclusively on Washington, regional powers are seeking to shape their own security arrangements. The agreement therefore has the potential to contribute to a more multipolar Middle East, reducing the dominance of the U.S.-led security architecture that has defined the region for decades.

However, the agreement’s limitations are significant. Its Article 5-like commitment has not yet demonstrated that Turkey or Pakistan would actually intervene militarily on Saudi Arabia’s behalf. In fact, when the Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia shortly after the agreement was signed, Riyadh did not invoke the pact. Thus, while the agreement represents an important shift towards regional self-reliance, its ability to provide meaningful security remains largely untested.  For now, the agreement offers the possibility of greater regional peace, while its lasting impact on the Middle Eastern security order remains uncertain.