Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a defense agreement, officials announced. The agreement, signed in Mecca, treats an attack on one country as an attack on all three.
“Guided by the longstanding historical ties among the three states, based on the enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and building upon their shared strategic interests and longstanding defense cooperation,” the officials’ agreement reflects on their “shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future,” a joint statement reads.
“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” the statement says. “It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defense cooperation among the three States.”
President Trump has separately urged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, saying he will not reach a nuclear deal with the country unless they decide to join. “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote. He also urged Saudi Arabia and Qatar to sign onto the accords back in May, warning that countries refusing to join “should not be part of a potential peace deal with Iran.”
