Throughout its illustrious history, Makkah has been the venue for numerous social, economic, intellectual, political, and security agreements. These range from Hilf al-Fudul before Islam, which complemented Hilf al-Mutayyibin, to the mutual defence agreement signed at the end of last week between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye.
By choosing Makkah as the venue for signing the pact, the Saudi leadership is sending a clear message about inclusivity. Makkah is a holy city to all Muslims, whether Sunni or Shiite, so it can serve as a bridge to bring Muslims of all sects together. Therefore, even though the signatories are all predominantly Sunni states, the choice of Makkah could be meant to signal that the pact is not an exclusive one.
It is as though the three leaderships sought to affirm a new Middle East identity for the 21st century—one founded on peace and mutual interest, not the kind of sectarian and ethnic conflicts that plagued the 20th century. It is a vision that seeks to turn the page on division and fragmentation and move towards social cohesion and functional competence.
The signatories themselves give additional weight to the agreement. All member states are located in West Asia, share a religious bond, and have similar political visions. This makes the alliance a powerful and cohesive axis.
Furthermore, their geographic location is one that links Asia to Europe as well as the global south to the developed north, with connectivity projects already underway, including a railway that links Türkiye to the Arabian Sea via Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia before reaching Oman, as well as an electricity network extending from the Gulf to Türkiye via Jordan and Syria, alongside other major strategic projects.
