Trump Hails Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan’s “Big, Bold” Security Move
US President Donald Trump has welcomed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, describing the pact as a “big, bold, and important first step” towards stronger regional security and greater self-reliance in the Middle East. The agreement, signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, establishes a collective-defence framework under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have established a new collective-defence arrangement. An attack against one signatory is to be treated as an attack against all three. The countries describe the agreement as defensive and not directed against any particular state. Trump has publicly welcomed the pact as a step towards greater regional self-reliance. Egypt is considering whether to join, although Cairo has not yet committed to accession. Analysts caution that the agreement should not automatically be equated with NATO. The M...