RIYADH/ANKARA – Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan on Friday signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, stipulating that any armed attack against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against them all.

The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during the Makkah Summit for Joint Defense held in the Saudi city of Makkah, according to a joint statement issued after the summit.

The agreement reflects the three countries' commitment to strengthening their collective security and safeguarding regional peace and stability, according to the statement.

It seeks to bolster collective deterrence against any act of aggression and deepen defense cooperation across all sectors, the statement read.

The three sides also reviewed their ties and a number of issues of mutual interest, it added.

Erdogan and Sharif are currently visiting Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

'Not contradict NATO commitments'

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Center for Combating Disinformation of Turkiye's Communications Directorate rejected claims that the agreement conflicts with NATO's Article 5.

The center described the allegations as "entirely unfounded" and "a clearly orchestrated attempt to create a false perception".

NATO's Article 5 enshrines the principle of collective defense, stipulating that an armed attack against one member state shall be considered an attack against all members.