The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement reflects the depth and longstanding nature of the strategic relations among the three countries, which have developed over several decades, and represents the culmination of detailed negotiations conducted over a number of years. The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement enables the three signatory countries to develop joint defense capabilities, strengthen strategic deterrence, enhance readiness, and further develop and integrate their respective defense capabilities to jointly address any threats to their safety and security. Under the agreement, any external armed attack against any one of the three countries shall be regarded as an attack against all three. The agreement does not represent an effort to establish a military axis or a sectarian bloc. Nor is it linked to any nuclear ambitions or arms race, rather it is focused on building sustainable capabilities. The agreement does not come at the expense of the Kingdom’s strong and strategic relations with its Gulf, Arab, and international partners. It does not constitute a threat to the security of any country in the region, nor does it represent an escalation of tensions between any two states. The agreement does not supersede or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries, or between them and other states or international organizations.