BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 7. The Joint Defense
Pact signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan is not directed
against any country and remains open to all friendly nations
seeking peace, prosperity, and stability in the region, Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan made the remarks in a post on X following his visit to Mecca at the
invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin
Salman.
“During the visit, I held meetings with my dear brothers, Saudi
Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On this occasion, our three
countries signed the Joint Defense Pact.
Based on the principle of collective deterrence, the agreement
will contribute to strengthening our cooperation in security and
defense, implementing joint defense industry projects, and
combating terrorism.
The agreement, which also reaffirms the right to self-defense
under Article 51 of the UN Charter, is not directed against any
country and is open to the participation of all friendly nations
committed to peace, prosperity, and stability in our region.
In line with its vision of regional responsibility, Türkiye will
continue to uphold its principled position in favor of resolving
conflicts and crises through dialogue and diplomacy, in full
respect of international law.
I pray that our visit, the consultations we held, and the
agreement we signed will bring benefits to the entire region,”
Erdoğan wrote.
Earlier in the day, Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the
Mecca Joint Defense Pact. Under the agreement, which is based on
the inherent right to self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the
UN Charter, an armed attack against any one of the three signatory
states will be regarded as an attack against all parties.
