Trump Welcomes Makkah Agreement, Calls it ‘Big, Bold’ Step

07 August 2026, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sign the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. Photo: -/PPI via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
07 August 2026, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sign the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. Photo: -/PPI via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
TT

Trump Welcomes Makkah Agreement, Calls it ‘Big, Bold’ Step

07 August 2026, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sign the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. Photo: -/PPI via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
07 August 2026, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sign the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. Photo: -/PPI via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he was pleased by the recent signing of a defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.

"Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way," he wrote, calling it a "BIG, BOLD, IMPORTANT FIRST STEP."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the agreement on August 7.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said the pact meant an attack on any member would be regarded as an attack on all, adding it was "intended to strengthen collective deterrence."

The agreement declared a "shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond."



Saudi FM Discusses Middle East Issues with German-Arab Parliamentary Group Chair

The Saudi and German delegations meet in Berlin. (SPA)
The Saudi and German delegations meet in Berlin. (SPA)
TT

Saudi FM Discusses Middle East Issues with German-Arab Parliamentary Group Chair

The Saudi and German delegations meet in Berlin. (SPA)
The Saudi and German delegations meet in Berlin. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held talks in Berlin with Chair of the German-Arab Parliamentary Relations Group in the German Bundestag Dr. Alexander Radwan, along with a number of members of parliament, during his official visit to Germany, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday. 

They reviewed Saudi-German relations and exchanged views on the most significant issues and challenges in the Middle East. 

They also tackled efforts by Saudi Arabia and partner countries to reach comprehensive, just, and peaceful solutions to the crises in the region. 

Prince Faisal also met with German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche. 

They reviewed bilateral economic relations and discussed opportunities to expand the scope of partnership, increase trade and investment exchange, and leverage the capabilities available to both countries in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. These efforts support growing economic ties, open new horizons for partnership, and advance common interests. 

They underlined the importance of developing relations in the energy sector and strengthening related partnerships, including energy security and sustainability and improving supply chain resilience.  

They stressed the importance of ensuring the security and safety of waterways and the freedom of commercial navigation, contributing to limiting the repercussions of current crises and supporting the stability of energy markets and the global economy. 


Coalition Says Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia Are a ‘Dangerous Escalation’, Vows ‘Firm’ Response

Official Spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Coalition Says Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia Are a ‘Dangerous Escalation’, Vows ‘Firm’ Response

Official Spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki condemned on Tuesday the Iran-backed Houthi militia for attacking the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran that left 73 civilians injured, including women and children.

In a statement, he said: “The escalation by the terrorist Houthi militia and its attempts to target Saudi Arabia, its national assets, its citizens, and residents on its territory is a dangerous escalation that confirms the hostile and irresponsible approach of this terrorist militia.”

He said the Houthis’ “senseless attacks”, the latest of which targeted civilian and economic sites in Saudi Arabia, are a “blatant violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty and a direct threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents.”

“These sinful and unjustified attacks committed by the terrorist Houthi militia deliberately harm the Kingdom's national resources, facilities, and civilian sites, and confirm its extremist criminal behavior that rejects achieving peace and stability in Yemen and its Arab and Islamic neighbors,” he went on to say.

Al-Malki affirmed that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition “will take all necessary operational measures to deter this militia and resolutely confront its hostile approach, in defense of the Kingdom's sovereignty, the preservation of its national assets, and the safety of its citizens and residents.”

“The command will also take all necessary measures and actions to respond to the sources of the threat and neutralize its danger,” he vowed.


IMCTC, Türkiye Discuss Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)
Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)
TT

IMCTC, Türkiye Discuss Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)
Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)

Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi received on Monday Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler at the coalition's headquarters in Riyadh to discuss deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

They also tackled ways to boost coordination and strengthen collective efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

Al-Moghedi reviewed the IMCTC's key activities, programs, and strategic initiatives across its four core domains: ideology, media, counter-terrorist financing, and military.

They stressed the importance of strengthening international efforts and bolstering effective partnerships to combat terrorist organizations and disrupt their ideological and financial support networks.

The two officials commended the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening cooperation and solidarity while consolidating security and stability.

The Turkish ambassador toured the IMCTC headquarters, where he was briefed on its operational mechanisms and the methodology used to develop and implement programs and initiatives across member states.