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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Wednesday that a newly established defense pact linking Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, known as the Mecca Defense Alliance, is intended to strengthen regional stability and insulate the region from ongoing tensions and conflicts.
The crown prince made the remarks while delivering the annual royal address on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the opening of the third year of the ninth session of Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, the kingdom's top consultative body.
"To strengthen regional stability, shield it from the repercussions of tensions and conflicts, and coordinate efforts, the Mecca Defense Alliance was established between the kingdom, Türkiye and Pakistan," the crown prince said.
He pointed to recent attacks targeting countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council as evidence that security across the bloc cannot be separated from country to country, describing Gulf security and stability as "indivisible."
He said Saudi Arabia is coordinating with its fellow GCC members, a six-nation regional bloc that also includes the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, to protect them.
At the same time, the crown prince said the kingdom is pursuing every available avenue to de-escalate regional tensions, while making clear that de-escalation would not come at the expense of its own security.
"We will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack aimed at undermining our security," he said.
Mohammed bin Salman also addressed the formation of a separate multinational defensive maritime coalition, which he said was designed to reinforce maritime security and safeguard shared interests in international waterways.
He rejected any use of those waterways as leverage for political or economic pressure.
The crown prince further cautioned that the world is currently facing what he called an energy crisis "open to all possibilities," without elaborating on specific causes or projected outcomes.
Turning to the Palestinian territories, the crown prince condemned what he described as Israel's "brutal attacks" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as well as repeated violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, a site in Jerusalem holy to Muslims.
He called on the international community, along with the Board of Peace, to fulfill their responsibilities in pursuing a lasting political resolution to the conflict.
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