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FILE - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shake hands during a welcome ceremony, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a defense agreement on Friday…
Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have signed a mutual defense agreement. The deal means an armed attack on one is considered an attack on all. It was signed Friday during a meeting in Saudi Arabia. The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have increased attacks on Saudi-linked targets. They were blamed for an attack in Marib province in Yemen and struck the Najran region in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The attacks have escalated tensions since a 2022 truce. Separately, an Israeli strike wounded a Lebanese soldier in the village of Mansouri. Here’s a look at the latest developments across the Middle East.
Pakistan's foreign minister says a new defense agreement his country signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is not directed against any country. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed Friday by leaders from the three nations. It aims to deepen security cooperation amid tensions between the United States and Iran. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Sunday the agreement is "purely defensive" and open to other countries willing to uphold its principles. The agreement states that an armed attack on one is an attack on all. Dar emphasizes it aligns with the U.N. Charter's self-defense rights and doesn't replace existing agreements.
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