Joint Defense Agreement: A new era of regional security and cooperation

https://arab.news/gk753 The growing strategic partnership between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as Pakistan, reflects these countries' shared commitment to contributing to the stability and security of the region, while promoting multilateralism, mediation and diplomacy. Turkish-Saudi relations have developed rapidly in the last three years, reinforced by high-level visits. Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, as two important regional actors, share similar views on various regional and global issues and are actively working together to coordinate their positions and efforts on a host of issues, including but not limited to Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. To illustrate this, on the political side, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia recently worked closely with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the US. On the economic side, joint transportation and connectivity projects have been launched. In this regard, technical discussions are ongoing for a railway project stretching from the Kingdom to Turkiye through Jordan and Syria, effectively connecting our countries by land. Building on this momentum, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a working visit to Saudi Arabia on Aug. 7, at the invitation of King Salman. During the visit, a historic trilateral meeting was held in Makkah between the leaders of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The framework remains open to other regional countries that share the goal of a stable, secure and prosperous region Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler The Joint Defense Agreement signed at this trilateral summit is an important step toward enhancing the defense cooperation among the three countries, while simultaneously strengthening their collective security and bolstering regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. At the heart of the Joint Defense Agreement is the principle of collective defense. It provides that an armed act of aggression against any one of the three countries will be considered an aggression against all three. Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan already have strong strategic ties but the new pact adds to this cooperation a stronger security and defense dimension. It provides an opportunity to improve joint defense capabilities, strengthen deterrence and better coordinate defense systems against common threats, including terrorism and threats to territorial integrity. Importantly, the agreement is defensive in nature. It is not intended to build offensive capabilities or target any third country. Instead, it aims to increase predictability, stability and deterrence by utilizing joint capabilities and resources. Its purpose is to strengthen the sovereignty and security of its members and to contribute to regional stability. This initiative is also based on the principle of regional ownership, recognizing the important role regional countries play in addressing security and economic challenges. Consolidating stability in the region will contribute to reducing global economic fluctuations and create favorable conditions for fully realizing the region's significant economic and development potential. The agreement provides for close but flexible military cooperation. A new joint headquarters will be established in Saudi Arabia to coordinate military cooperation among the three countries. At the same time, the Joint Defense Agreement does not replace or cancel any existing bilateral or multilateral commitments. It is intended to complement, rather than undermine, existing Euro-Atlantic and international security arrangements. Finally, the Joint Defense Agreement is not intended to create an exclusive or closed bloc. It is based on sovereignty, mutual commitment and equal partnership, which are fully consistent with the UN Charter and international law. The existing strategic ties between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan provided a natural basis for the agreement, but the framework remains open to other regional countries that respect international law and share the goal of a stable, secure and prosperous region. Rather than creating new divisions or rival blocs, the Joint Defense Agreement seeks to promote greater regional cooperation, inclusive integration and a more peaceful and secure future for the region. • Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler is Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.