Mecca Defense Pact draws growing interest from Muslim Nations

Mettis Global, citing Bloomberg, reports that Pakistan has confirmed interest from six to seven nations with Muslim majorities in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Senior diplomats from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye gathered in Istanbul to explore security and military ties. The accord, signed on August 7, treats a strike on one member of the trio as a strike on all three.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said over the weekend that officials are building a framework to allow other states to join, though he did not name them. Bangladesh has become the latest country to voice interest in the arrangement.

Concern is mounting in the three nations over a worsening regional security picture, with Israel and Iran both adopting more aggressive military stances. Missile strikes have targeted Gulf oil exporters and energy cargo movements have been disrupted, according to the report.