Bahrain FM Congratulates Pakistan on Makkah Defence Agreement
Bahrain’s foreign minister has praised the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkiye pact, while Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace through dialogue and diplomacy
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye strengthen defence cooperation through the Makkah agreement.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani has congratulated Pakistan on the signing of the Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing the pact as an important development in regional security.
Al Zayani conveyed his congratulations during a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to the Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday. The two officials also discussed bilateral relations and regional developments during the call.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Under the agreement, the three countries have committed to strengthening collective deterrence, with an armed attack against one signatory to be treated as an attack against all three.
According to the FO, Bahrain’s foreign minister also expressed his intention to visit Pakistan in the near future. Dar welcomed the proposed visit and thanked his Bahraini counterpart for his positive remarks on the agreement.
The Defence Agreement has been presented by Pakistan as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening security cooperation rather than targeting any particular country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Dar have both stressed that the pact is defensive in nature.
Dar has also said that the agreement remains open to other countries in the region that are prepared to uphold its fundamental principles.
During the conversation, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred means of advancing peace and stability in the region and beyond.
A day earlier, Dar had congratulated the Pakistani nation on the signing of the agreement, highlighting its significance for collective security and self-defence.
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The foreign minister said the provision under which an attack on one member would be regarded as an attack on all three was consistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence recognised under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The agreement has also received support from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which described it as an “important strategic step”. The 57-member organisation’s response underlined the wider interest among Muslim-majority countries in strengthening regional security cooperation.
Several countries have welcomed the pact, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia. Iran has also responded positively, reiterating its preference for regional security arrangements based on cooperation among countries in the region.
The diplomatic reaction to the agreement suggests that the pact could become part of wider discussions on regional security, collective defence and cooperation among Muslim-majority states.
For Pakistan, the agreement marks a significant step in expanding its strategic defence partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye while maintaining that diplomacy and dialogue remain central to its approach to regional peace.
