--- title: "Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan prepare roadmap for defence pact expansion" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-prepare-roadmap-for-defence-pact-expansion" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-prepare-roadmap-for-defence-pact-expansion" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-prepare-roadmap-for-defence-pact-expansion.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-prepare-roadmap-for-defence-pact-expansion" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-31T16:46:18.259Z" source_reported: "2026-08-31T16:03:25.014Z" updated: "2026-08-31T16:46:18.259Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-31T16:30:44.386446+00:00" --- # Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan prepare roadmap for defence pact expansion *Three nations signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7, with others now expressing interest in joining.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies, with two independent outlets and a document cited. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and states what happens next. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises more than the body delivers, with mild sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are preparing a roadmap for other countries to join their joint defence pact. - The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed on August 7 in Mecca. - Six to seven Muslim-majority countries have expressed interest in joining the pact, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. - The first meeting of the pact's key committee was held in Istanbul. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are developing a plan for other countries to join their joint defence pact. The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed on August 7 in Mecca. Six to seven Muslim-majority countries have expressed interest in joining the pact, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. The first meeting of the pact's key committee was held in Istanbul. ## Disagreement on specific countries interested in joining While Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated that six to seven Muslim-majority countries have expressed interest in joining the pact, Capital.gr reported that Bangladesh is one such country, and Turkey wants Egypt to join. No other reports mention specific countries. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mention the specific figure of six to seven Muslim-majority countries expressing interest in joining the pact, a detail that was prominent in the right-rated reports. The digests from Frankfurter Allgemeine, Akşam, and zougla.gr did not include the statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry regarding the number of interested countries. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 15% (1) - Right: 71% (5) 7 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-31T16:30:44.386446+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-31T17:01:17.251Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Saudi Gazette, a left-rated outlet, led on Saudi Arabia's reaffirmation of commitment to activating the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. The report quoted Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman stating the pact would strengthen integration and advance regional security and stability. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also quoted, saying the agreement launched a process for a new regional security and cooperation architecture and that the alliance was designed for expansion once a strong institutional framework was established. The report detailed the delegations from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan present at the meeting. ### Centre - Devdiscourse, a centre-rated outlet, focused on Turkey's announcement that a roadmap was being prepared for other countries to join the defence pact. The report stated that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made these remarks at a press conference following the first meeting of a key committee established as part of the "Mecca Defence Alliance". The agreement was signed on August 7 in Mecca. ### Right - Four right-rated reports highlighted that six to seven Muslim-majority countries are interested in joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. i24NEWS reported Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stating this interest over the weekend. CNBC-TV18 and Latestly also reported this figure, with Latestly adding that the development comes amid the Israel-Iran conflict and heightened Gulf tensions. Frankfurter Allgemeine's digest mentioned that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are advancing their defence pact, with Ankara using the first meeting for Israel's shelter, though this specific detail was not present in other reports. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 2 - unknown: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/international/3970067-turkey-says-roadmap-being-prepared-for-others-to-join-defence-pact-with-saudi-arabia-and-pakistan) — Turkey says roadmap being prepared for others to join defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - [Al Arabiya](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2026/08/31/turkey-says-roadmap-underway-for-others-to-join-defense-pact-with-saudi-arabia-pakistan-) — Turkey says roadmap underway for others to join defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan - [Frankfurter Allgemeine](https://faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/saudi-arabien-tuerkei-und-pakistan-treiben-mekka-verteidigungspakt-voran-201174243.html) — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Advance Mecca Defense Pact - [Saudi Gazette](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/664194) — Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to activating Makkah Joint Defense Agreement - [Akşam](https://aksam.com.tr/dunya/istanbuldaki-kritik-toplanti-sonrasi-suudi-arabistandan-ilk-aciklama/haber-1694802) — First Statement From Saudi Arabia After the Critical Meeting in Istanbul. - [Islamabad Post](https://islamabadpost.com.pk/turkey-says-roadmap-underway-for-others-to-join-defense-pact-with-saudi-arabia-pakistan) — Turkey says roadmap underway for others to join defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan - [zougla.gr](https://zougla.gr/kosmos/pros-dievrynsi-to-amyntiko-symfono-agkyras-riant-kai-islamabant) — Defense Pact Between Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad to Be Expanded - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/228915_odikos-hartis-gia-entaxi-neon-horon-stin-amyntiki-symmahia-toyrkias-saoydikis) — Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Pave the Way for New Countries in Their Alliance - [europost.gr](https://europost.gr/dynamonei-to-moysoylmaniko-nato-yparchei-endiaferon-apo-6-7-moysoylmanikes-chores-gia-na-entachthoyn-sto-symfono-tis-mekkas-leei-to-ypoyrgeio-exoterikon-toy-pakistan) — The "Muslim NATO" Is Gaining Strength: "There Is Interest From 6-7 Muslim Countries to Join the Mecca Pact," Says the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. - [i24NEWS](https://i24news.tv/en/news/international/artc-turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-hold-first-mecca-defense-agreement-meeting-as-more-countries-eye-joining-pact) — Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan hold first Mecca Defense Agreement meeting as more countries eye joining pact - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/world/six-to-seven-muslim-majority-countries-interested-in-joining-saudi-turkey-pakistan-defence-pact-report-19980550.htm) — Six to seven Muslim-majority countries interested in joining Mecca defence pact: Report - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/world/pakistan-says-6-7-muslim-nations-want-to-join-mecca-joint-defence-agreement-amid-iran-war-report-7583668.html) — Pakistan Says 6-7 Muslim Nations Want To Join Mecca Joint Defence Agreement Amid Iran War: Report | 🌎 LatestLY - [Capital.gr](https://capital.gr/diethni/4013497/pakistan-endiaferon-apo-6-7-mousoulmanikes-xores-gia-entaxi-sto-sumfono-tis-mekkas-me-s-arabia-kai-tourkia) — Pakistan: Interest From 6-7 Muslim Countries in Joining the Mecca Pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey - [The Wonk](https://thewonk.in/the-mecca-pact) — The Mecca Pact : Is It A New Security Bloc Or An Unfinished Alliance? ## Questions **What is the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement?** The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is a collective defense pact signed on August 7 in Mecca by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. It establishes a commitment where an attack against one party is considered an attack against all. **Who is interested in joining the defence pact?** According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, six to seven Muslim-majority countries have expressed interest in joining the pact. Capital.gr specifically mentioned Bangladesh as a potential member and that Turkey wants Egypt to join. **What was the purpose of the first committee meeting?** The first meeting of the pact's key committee was held in Istanbul to establish institutional mechanisms for implementing the agreement and to discuss a roadmap for potential new members to join the alliance. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-prepare-roadmap-for-defence-pact-expansion. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan prepare roadmap for defence pact expansion", https://mediabias.news/conflict/turkey-saudi-arabia-pakistan-prepare-roadmap-for-defence-pact-expansion