After the signing: Pakistan - 'The alliance is not against any country'

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the new defense agreement signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey is not directed against any country and remains open to additional nations in the region. The agreement, known as the 'Mecca Joint Defense Agreement', was signed on Friday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, amid growing tensions between the US and Iran. Dar clarified that the agreement is 'purely defensive in nature' and that other countries could join if they are willing to respect its principles and resolve disputes peacefully. The remarks came a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also stated that the agreement is not directed against Iran or any other country. According to the text, 'any armed attack against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all'. Dar noted that this clause aligns with the right to individual and collective self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. He further stressed that 'the Mecca agreement does not cancel or replace existing agreements'. His remarks came after public celebrations in Islamabad and cities in Saudi Arabia. The three countries bring different capabilities: Pakistan has extensive military experience and is the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons; Saudi Arabia brings economic strength; and Turkey, a NATO member, has a large army and an advanced defense industry. However, security analysts in Islamabad warn against comparing the agreement to NATO. Abdullah Khan, a security analyst, said it should not be interpreted as a move directed against Iran.