ISLAMABAD: Israel has expressed concern over a landmark trilateral defence pact Pakistan signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye last week.
An Israeli minister described the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, under which an armed attack against any one of the three states would be considered an attack against all, as a major and potentially dangerous development for the region and Israel.
Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs said the pact signed in Makkah was deeply troubling for Israel. He warned that it could have serious implications.
The minister said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already had a defence agreement. However, he said Turkiye’s inclusion had changed the nature of the arrangement. Makkah Joint Defence Agreement significantly expands a Pakistan-Saudi defense arrangement signed last year by adding Turkiye, a NATO member with one of the alliance’s largest defense industry and major militaries.
He noted that Israel and Turkiye have major differences on several issues. He said the new trilateral defence cooperation could not be ignored.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the pact in the Saudi city of Makkah two days ago. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation on defence and security.
Under a key provision, an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all three.
The provision also calls for a joint response to major security threats facing any member of the pact.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already had a bilateral defence agreement. The two countries had pledged to cooperate to protect each other’s security.
Turkiye’s inclusion has now expanded that cooperation into a trilateral framework. Analysts see the move as significant for regional security.
The three countries are major players in the Muslim world. Closer defence ties could affect security dynamics in both the Middle East and South Asia, analysts said.
Israel’s concerns also stem from its strained relations with Turkiye. The two countries have sharply different positions on Gaza and wider regional issues.
The Israeli minister described the Makkah pact as a “dangerous and troubling development”. He warned that it could have serious consequences for Israel in the future.
The three signatories, however, have not described the pact as an alliance against any specific country. They have presented it as a framework for mutual defence and regional security cooperation.
Experts say the pact’s significance will depend on its implementation. They will also watch its impact on joint defence planning, military cooperation and the three countries’ future relations with other states.
