Kathmandu— Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan signed a landmark mutual defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, establishing a pact that stipulates an attack on one signatory shall be regarded as an attack against all. The agreement, which comes amid ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran, has prompted varied reactions from analysts regarding its impact on United States strategic interests and regional stability.

A New Regional Security Framework

The central pledge of the agreement stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all, according to a joint statement released Friday. This provision, reminiscent of NATO's Article 5, marks a significant development in regional security dynamics.

While the full details of the agreement have not been released, the pact builds upon a previous mutual defence agreement reached between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025. This earlier deal was signed shortly after an Israeli air strike on Doha, which had heightened concerns regarding the ability of Washington to protect its closest allies.

Implications for US Strategy

The pact has sparked debate among experts regarding its alignment with United States interests. Some analysts suggest the deal reflects growing wariness toward an unpredictable US government and could signal a wider security realignment. Harlan Ullman, chairman of the Killowen Group advisory firm, told Al Jazeera that the basis for US alliances in the Middle East and with NATO has been 'haken.'

Conversely, other experts argue the pact may align with the Trump administration's goals of increasing burden-sharing among allies. Asli Aydintasbas, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that the US may not be bothered by the deal as it is consistent with ideas on regional solutions and burden-sharing. However, she also noted the limits of US deterrence in the region following Iranian attacks on US allies.

Challenges to the Abraham Accords

The agreement is expected to pose a significant diplomatic challenge to the Abraham Accords, the US-led initiative for Arab-Israeli normalization. Sina Toosi, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Policy, told Al Jazeera that the emergence of a defence initiative among three major Muslim powers seeking strategic autonomy may be a setback to the US goal of reshaping the regional balance of power in Israel's favour.

Asli Aydintasbas added that the pact removes ambiguity regarding Riyadh's position, making it 'crystal clear' that Saudi Arabia will not join the Abraham Accords as long as the Palestinian issue remains unresolved.

The full details of the agreement remain unreleased, and the practical application of the collective defence provision remains untested.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.