The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan could reshape West Asian security dynamics and create strategic implications for India.

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• Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah, strengthening trilateral security and military cooperation across the region.
• The agreement establishes a collective defence principle under which an armed attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all three.
• The framework includes greater military coordination, joint training and exercises, along with mechanisms for sharing strategic intelligence and security information.
• Saudi Arabia is seeking diversified security partnerships as regional instability and maritime threats increase around critical routes such as the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb.
• Türkiye aims to strengthen its strategic role in West Asia while creating additional opportunities for its expanding defence industry, including drones and aerospace systems.
• Pakistan could strengthen its longstanding defence relationship with Saudi Arabia while increasing its strategic relevance and expanding economic and energy cooperation.
• The agreement has implications for India because of its extensive energy, trade and investment relationship with Saudi Arabia and wider interests across the Indian Ocean.
• Greater defence cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan could create diplomatic challenges for India, although strong economic and strategic ties with Saudi Arabia remain important.