From “Hold Fast Together” to Collective Defence: Is the Muslim World Entering a New Strategic Era? Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Wa'tasimu bihablillahi jami'an wala tafarraqu " is a phrase from Surah Ali 'Imran (Ayah 103) of the Quran meaning " And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided For centuries, the Muslim world has possessed enormous demographic, economic, geographic and strategic potential, yet political fragmentation has often prevented that potential from translating into collective power. Today, however, a new geopolitical development is forcing the world to reconsider whether a different era of cooperation may be emerging. The recent Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye has immediately attracted international attention. Signed on 7 August 2026, the agreement contains a significant collective-defence principle: an armed attack against one of the three states is to be regarded as an attack against all three. Pakistani officials have described the arrangement as defensive and open to further cooperation, r...