The Makkah Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is more than a new military accord among three major states. It points to a broader reshaping of the region’s security landscape after the wars and upheavals of recent years. For the “new Syria”, it carries particular significance. All three signatories are allies of Damascus, while its most prominent regional adversaries remain outside the agreement.
The agreement’s name also carries significance. Across the Islamic world, Makkah is considered the holiest city for Muslims. And before the birth of Islam, the Quraysh tribe in Makkah established Ilaf—vital trade agreements and safe-passage pacts, which helped turn the city into a cosmopolitan commercial and economic hub.
The crux of the alliance is clear: an armed attack on any one of the three states is to be regarded as an attack on them all. Saudi Arabia brings its Arab and Islamic standing, economic weight, and political influence; Türkiye, its large army, NATO membership, and defence industries; and Pakistan, its armed forces, nuclear capabilities, longstanding Saudi ties, and important channels to both Washington and Beijing.
The agreement has come alongside another Saudi initiative of comparable importance. Riyadh hosted military representatives from 43 countries, together with the European Union, to discuss the creation of a multinational defensive maritime alliance. Many states declared their support for the project, which has begun to move from concept to institution, with a commander appointed and work underway to complete its command, staff and coordination structures.
Taken together, these steps reveal the outlines of a broader security vision based on building deterrence, safeguarding stability and reinforcing diplomacy. They also point to a shift away from dependence on arrangements devised by others and towards active participation in shaping a new regional security order. The US-Iran war underscored the need to accelerate a process that began last year, particularly as the nature of the threats has changed. Armies crossing borders have given way to missiles, drones, militias and threats to ships, ports, energy installations and strategic straits.
