Text of the Makkah defence agreement

FOLLOWING its submission for parliamentary approval, Turkish state broadcaster TRT Haber and other outlets have published the text of the Makkah Joint Defence agreement. The 16 articles of the trilateral defence agreement are reproduced here.

The Government of the Republic of Turkiye, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (hereinafter referred to as a “party”, the “parties”, or the “core parties”).

Article 1: The “parties” shall cooperate to ensure and safeguard one another’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of their internationally recognised borders. If the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or internationally recognised borders of any of the “parties” are threatened or endangered, the “parties” shall use all necessary means to eliminate such threat(s) or danger(s).

Article 2: An externally originating armed attack against any of the “parties” shall be considered an attack against all the “parties.” If one of the “parties” is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the “parties” shall immediately assist the attacked “party,” making full use of all means of mutual assistance that they can provide to one another. For this purpose, to enable the exercise of the right of self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, the “parties” shall determine the scope and nature of the support to be provided following an objective assessment of the assistance required, and shall cooperate within the limits of their available resources, including military means and capabilities.

Article 3: Pursuant to Article 2 of this agreement, the “parties” shall cooperate closely in the fields of defence, defence industry, and security; develop relations among their Armed Forces; and carry out agreed activities aimed at strengthening cooperation in defence.

Article 4: The “parties” shall hold regular consultations on international security matters. They shall continuously and effectively assist one another and cooperate in developing individual and joint measures based on common assessments, in or­­d­­er to protect their vital interests and national security and eliminate thre­ats and dangers to their national security.

Article 5: The “parties” shall stren­­gthen existing cooperation and joint efforts, including at the operational level, in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations that adversely affect regional and international stability and security.

Article 6: In wartime and peacetime, the “parties” shall encourage reciprocal personnel exchanges am­­ong defence institutions, joint training programmes and exercises, and deployments and activities aimed at increasing the interoperability of the “parties’” armed forces, in order to develop their defence capabilities.

Article 7: To strengthen their defence capabilities, the “parties” shall, on the basis of mutual agreement, support technology sharing among defence-industry institutions, joint technology development, joint production, and cooperation among defence-industry organisations in the following areas:

a) Encouraging joint production in the field of defence;

b) Implementing defence innovation through joint research and development projects in technologies requiring specialised expertise;

c) Training personnel and supporting the military industry within the territories of the “parties” through experts from any “party”;

d) Sharing expertise and lessons learned in the fields of defence industry, defence research and development, and innovation;

e) Other areas of cooperation mutually agreed upon by the “parties”.

Article 8:

1. The “core parties” shall establish a “Strategic Political and Defe­nce Committee”, comprising the For­e­­ign Ministers, Defence Ministers, and Chiefs of General Staff of the “parties” to provide strategic direction for joint defence, develop defe­nce and security cooperation among the “parties” and address obstacles that may arise during the implementation of this agreement. The Comm­ittee shall meet twice a year, with hosting rotating among the “parties”. The leaders of the “parties” may meet once a year if deemed necessary.

2. The “Strategic Political and Defe­­­nce Committee” may establish subcommittees if it considers this necessary.

3. Agreements or protocols shall, where necessary, be negotiated among the “parties” for the implementation of the areas of cooperation envisaged in this agreement.

4. The “Strategic Political and Def­ence Committee” shall be authorised, by consensus of the “core parties”, to determine and approve the procedures and principles governing the accession of other “parties” to this agreement.

5. A Secretariat headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be established to serve the “Strategic Political and Defence Committee”. The Secre­tariat shall conclude a headquarters agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The procedures and principles governing the Secretariat’s functioning, organisational structure, and establishment shall subsequently be determined by consensus of the “core parties”.

6. The Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary-General appointed for a three-year term on a rotational basis among the “core parties”. The first Secretary-General shall be a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

7. The provisions of this Article shall not prejudice the work of existing military cooperation committees among the “parties”.

Article 9: To deepen cooperation in intelligence and provide the necessary coordination in this regard, the “parties” shall share intelligence through mutually agreed secure channels, while observing information security, data protection and confidentiality.

Article 10: Subject to the availability and compatibility of logistical support services, the “parties” shall provide one another with logistical support in peacetime, wartime, and other emergencies, including weapons, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and other equipment.

Article 11: Without prejudice to international law and the relevant domestic laws of the “parties”, the “parties” shall accept this agreement as the legal basis for implementing its provisions and shall propose additional legal measures where necessary.

Article 12: This agreement shall not prejudice the rights and obligations of the “parties” arising from international agreements they have previously concluded.

Article 13:

1. The “parties” shall respect the confidentiality of classified information and documents obtained under this agreement and shall respect national legislation.

2. Classified information and documents shall not be shared with any sta­te, company, or person outside the “parties”.

3. Access to classified information and documents shall be provided on a “need-to-know” basis and only to persons holding the appropriate level of security clearance.

Article 14: Any dispute arising from the interpretation or implementation of this agreement shall be settled amicably through consultations and discussions among the “parties”.

Article 15: This agreement may be amended through consultations and unanimous agreement among the “core parties”.

Article 16:

1. This agreement shall be ratified in accordance with the procedures applicable to each “party” and shall enter into force on the date on which the final instrument of ratification is deposited with the Secretariat of the “Strategic Political and Defence Committee”.

2. This agreement shall remain in force indefinitely.

3. Any “party” may withdraw from this agreement after 10 years have elapsed from its entry into force, by giving the other “parties” written notification of its intention to withdraw through diplomatic channels at least three months in advance.

4. Termination of this agreement or withdrawal from it shall not affect any ongoing activities or projects agreed upon by the “parties” before the date of termination or withdrawal.

5. The responsibilities of the “parties” concerning the protection of classified information and documents and the prevention of their disclosure shall continue after termination of this agreement or withdrawal from it.

This agreement has been signed in three original copies in the Turkish, Ar­­­abic, and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In the event of a difference in interpretation between the texts, the English text shall prevail.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026