On Friday, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a defence pact in Mecca, deepening regional security cooperation amid tensions triggered by the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran.

The alliance reflects a recognition that American deterrence has weakened and that the Iranian threat will increasingly need to be managed by regional powers.

The pact, signed by Mohammed bin Salman, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Shehbaz Sharif, commits the three states to collective deterrence; an attack on one is an attack on all.

The deal follows Saudi‑Pakistan cooperation in 2025, including the deployment of a squadron and a Chinese HQ‑9 system to protect Saudi airspace. It also signals Turkey’s willingness to join naval and drone operations against Houthi rebels.

As Houthi attacks on Saudi ports and shipping resume, the pact offers a framework for coordinated responses, potentially reshaping the regional order and encouraging other states to join.

The agreement also aligns with the US preference for greater regional burden‑sharing and the Ankara strategy of "regional solutions to regional problems," while keeping the pact purely defensive and open to other members.