India has stated that it is closely following the trilateral defence agreement signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that New Delhi is keeping a vigilant watch on the situation after the three nations formalised the “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.”

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a weekly media briefing, remarked that this was a development India is monitoring carefully and promised to provide updates as the situation evolves.

On separate reports concerning Somalia entering into a security pact with Pakistan, Jaiswal noted that India continues to closely follow those developments as well, without elaborating further.

The trilateral pact was signed against the backdrop of escalating conflict in West Asia. It aims to solidify military collaboration among the three nations amidst mounting regional threats.

The agreement stipulates that any armed attack against one of the three states will be regarded as an attack against all. It also provides for the enhancement of defence cooperation across multiple domains.

Although the pact does not detail explicit military obligations or operational commitments, it outlines its purpose as fostering peace, stability and security both regionally and globally.

The agreement was executed during a meeting in Saudi Arabia attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The deal comes amid intensifying regional strife following months of hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. These conflicts have undermined Gulf security and compromised maritime routes along the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia has faced repeated strikes on its critical infrastructure and oil facilities by Iran and its proxies, including the Houthis and Iraqi militias. This has prompted Riyadh to seek broader defence partnerships.

The pact also coincides with escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza, as well as wider hostilities involving Iran and Lebanon.

The formalisation follows speculation about the emergence of a broader regional alliance often referred to as an “Islamic NATO.” Reports had earlier suggested that the three nations were preparing to deepen defence integration.

The tripartite agreement builds upon the bilateral framework established last year when Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.” That pact pledged that any aggression against either country would be treated as an attack on both.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously indicated that the Saudi-Pakistan axis could expand to include Turkiye and Qatar. He emphasised that discussions were progressing to create a regional structure aimed at fostering peace without targeting any specific foreign power.

Asif had stated that such an arrangement would minimise dependence on external actors, while stressing that the pact was not directed against anyone but was important for protecting peace within the region.

India has been continuously monitoring these developments. Following the initial bilateral agreement last year, New Delhi had acknowledged the formalisation of what it described as a long-standing arrangement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

At that time, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had emphasised that India would study the implications of the pact for national security and regional stability. He reiterated that safeguarding India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security remained paramount.

The trilateral pact now adds a new dimension to the evolving security matrix in West Asia. For India, the development warrants close scrutiny as it could reshape the balance of power in the region and affect strategic calculations across multiple domains.

ANI