Naftali Bennett’s nightmare has come true. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye have joined hands and signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, with the standout provision of collective defence.
Back in September 2025, when the Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement was signed, I had said that the Turks would sooner or later become part of this arrangement. It was only natural for Turkiye to join. It would not be wrong to say that the SMDA was incomplete without the inclusion of Turkiye.
All three states have enjoyed deep strategic ties. They understand each other's strengths and anxieties. So, there is unshakable mutual trust among the states, regardless of who is in charge. On top of that, the recent events and instability in the region has strengthened this shared belief that the fate of our region cannot be left to the adventurist and destabilizing forces like Israelis.
Moreover, the states bring a complementary set of abilities to the alliance. Pakistan has the military might, Saudi Arabia has the economic depth, and Turkiye boasts a surging modern defence industrial base. Therefore, the states are very well positioned to benefit from each other's competencies.
It would be unjust not to thank India here. It was India's failed Sindoor adventure that boosted Pakistan's morale in its defence capabilities. India's subsequent decision to side unconditionally with the aggressor, Israel, further provided Pakistan with the space to become a diplomatic pivot.
Nontheless, it’s a huge development and Pakistan is becoming a genuine net security provider!
