What are Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan’s joint military capabilities?

What the report says

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca, pledging closer collective deterrence and saying an attack on one would be treated as an attack on all. The agreement was announced on August 11, 2026, and comes amid heightened regional tensions, including concerns about Israel’s military reach and Iran’s influence.

In Al Jazeera’s explainer, the three states are described as a potentially significant military bloc because their strengths are complementary. Saudi Arabia brings major financial resources and strategic location; Turkiye contributes a large, increasingly advanced defence industry and NATO-linked military expertise; and Pakistan offers substantial manpower and nuclear capability. The article cites the 2026 Global Firepower Index, which it says places their combined active forces at nearly 1.4 million, with roughly 3,400 aircraft, about 6,000 tanks and more than 340 naval assets.

The report says Saudi Arabia has the largest defence budget of the three, while Turkiye fields the biggest naval force among them and Pakistan has the largest number of active personnel and tanks. It also notes that the pact could help Saudi Arabia widen its security options beyond the United States, while Turkiye and Pakistan may gain access to Saudi financing for their defence sectors.

The article adds that Egypt has been mentioned publicly as a possible future partner, though analysts quoted by Al Jazeera say any expansion would depend on Cairo’s concerns over commitments, existing alliances and relations with Washington.