Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign mutual defense pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a joint defense pact in Mecca on Aug. 7, deepening security ties as war and shipping disruptions roil the Middle East. The agreement was signed after talks involving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Republika, citing a joint statement from Turkey’s communications directorate, reported the pact includes a collective-defense clause under which an armed attack on one country would be treated as an attack on all three. The move follows months of talks and comes as Gulf states face threats linked to Iran, Yemen’s Houthis and regional militia activity.