The combination of Turkish industry, Saudi wealth, and Pakistani military know-how could create a formidable new defense industrial base.

On August 6, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a historic defense pact—the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement—to adopt a common approach to regional threats. This long-anticipated coalition was formed to diversify dependence on the United States and create an opportunity for more regional defense cooperation. As allies, this is not an opportunistic “filling the vacuum” left by a reduced US presence but rather complements the already strong partnerships among Riyadh, Islamabad, and Ankara.  

The diplomatic and military consequences of this alliance will be profound and frequently discussed; less so the massive opportunity it will create for the defense industrial base. The Mecca Pact could become a vertically integrated monolith. 

The headlines will be quick to note Saudi financial muscle and Turkish advanced drone technology, but as important is Pakistan’s less noted skills in value and scale in front-line combat vehicles, weapons and ammunition production. Even more important, Pakistan provides established depth in the overlooked Achilles’ heel of repair, maintenance, and support. Without it, keeping systems running beyond the first battle is nearly impossible. As Napoleon is alleged to have said, “Amateurs discuss tactics: the professionals discuss logistics.”

The Pakistan logistics enterprise goes back decades. Fifty years ago, the Pakistan defense sector was barely producing small arms and ammunition. It invested heavily in assembly, overhaul, and rebuild capabilities. 

Today, Pakistan is a rising powerhouse in the international defense market. It offers a full portfolio of exportable land, sea, and air systems, with a focus on scale and cost. Heavy Industries Taxila produces tracked and wheeled combat vehicles; the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex fields combat and training aircraft and UAVs for export; and the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works produces critical fleet support frigates, corvettes, and attack and patrol vessels.  

The Mecca Pact will likely attempt to develop a joint export base with Saudi finance, Turkish high-end equipment, and Pakistan’s strengths in quality, scale, and cost. It has the potential to complement the United States, especially when competing for business in smaller countries with more limited budgets. While the United States will continue to sell expensive, high-end (and often over-engineered) systems, the Mecca Pact could still capture a large share of the low-end export market.

With the United States beginning to confront its financial vulnerabilities and growing threats from China, a coalition of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey could serve as a natural complement for the withdrawing hegemon. Moreover, the Mecca Pact is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey to create a new player in international defense manufacturing and trade.

About the Author: Mark Kimmitt

Mark Kimmitt is a retired US Army brigadier general. He served as assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs from 2008 to 2009 and as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. Kimmitt graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, and received master’s degrees from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National Defense University.

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