United States President Donald Trump praised the recent defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye on Sunday. He wrote on Truth Social that he was very happy to see the three countries sign the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. He called it a “BIG, BOLD, IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.” He said it shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how countries can now defend themselves more meaningfully.
Key Highlights
- Trump praises Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on Truth Social
- PM Shehbaz Sharif thanks Trump, credits him for helping avert conflict with India last year
- Turkiye says Egypt could join the pact “in the next stage”
- Kuwait, Bahrain, and Somalia have already welcomed the agreement
- Iran responds with a notably positive tone toward the pact
Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way. Congratulations… pic.twitter.com/CrBARNWQfa
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) August 16, 2026
Shehbaz Thanks Trump, Points to Regional Stability
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded to Trump’s remarks soon after. He said he deeply appreciated the kind words of support. He added that Pakistan, together with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, would keep playing a constructive role in defending the region.
Shehbaz also referenced last year’s brief military conflict with India. He credited Trump with courageous and decisive leadership. He said this leadership helped avert a nuclear catastrophe in South Asia and saved millions of lives. He said durable peace remains the most essential requirement for a prosperous future.
Deeply appreciate President Donald Trump’s kind words of support on the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Together with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkiye, Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in ensuring the defence of… pic.twitter.com/qdemVBYkLq
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 17, 2026
What the Pact Actually Does
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye signed the agreement on August 7. The signing came as the US-Iran war continued to spread violence across the region, including attacks by Houthi rebels. Under the pact, an attack on any one signatory country counts as an attack on all three. The goal is to strengthen collective deterrence among the three nations.
Turkiye’s defense ministry said last week that the three countries will build political and military mechanisms under the agreement. The ministry added that defense industry cooperation would deepen as well. Both PM Shehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar have said the pact is purely defensive. Dar added that it remains open to any regional country willing to uphold its core principles.
Other Countries Show Interest in Joining
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said shortly after the signing that Turkiye expects Egypt to join the pact soon. He told Anadolu news agency that only a few technical issues remain. Egypt, however, has not commented on the agreement or on Fidan’s remarks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later said he hopes more countries will join. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the vision for the pact is not limited to three countries. He said he hopes conditions will one day allow all regional countries to join under its umbrella.
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Somalia are among the countries that have already welcomed the pact. Iran’s response also carried a fairly positive tone. Tehran stressed its own preference for security mechanisms built on cooperation among regional countries, rather than criticizing the agreement outright.
