Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia agree to institutionalise joint defence pact

ISTANBUL: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye held the inaugural meeting of their Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul on Monday, marking the first high-level meeting under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed earlier this month.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended the meeting alongside Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

The meeting was also attended by the foreign and defence ministers of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

The three countries agreed to further institutionalise their cooperation under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, including the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Saudi Arabia to coordinate the trilateral framework.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the three countries in Istanbul on Monday, attended by their foreign and defence ministers as well as chiefs of defence forces/chiefs of general staff, said a statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Under the agreement, a secretariat headed by a secretary general will be established in Saudi Arabia to support cooperation among the three countries.

The secretariat will initially be headed by a secretary general from Pakistan for a three-year term, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.

The three countries said the move was aimed at strengthening solidarity among them, enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence, and contributing to regional efforts for cooperative security.

The trilateral grouping also agreed to strengthen the defence capabilities and cohesion of their armed forces through joint activities, including greater cooperation in the defence industry, joint technology development and production.

The meeting was held under the framework established by the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, with the three countries reaffirming their determination to work together to promote sustainable peace and stability in the region.

The countries said they would continue supporting efforts towards de-escalation and restraint and encourage the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

“Acting with a sense of regional ownership,” the three countries reiterated their commitment to cooperation under the Makkah Agreement, according to the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They said the “institutionalised and resolute implementation” of the agreement would enable the three countries to make an essential contribution to regional peace and stability.

The meeting brought together senior political and military leadership from Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia amid efforts by the three countries to deepen strategic, political and defence cooperation.

The Strategic Political and Defence Committee format was established under the Makkah Agreement to provide an institutional framework for cooperation between the three countries.

The joint statement was issued in Istanbul on August 31, 2026.

Earlier, Dar described the gathering as the beginning of a “new chapter” in defence cooperation among the three countries, saying it marked the first meeting since Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.

“The historic meeting in Istanbul marks the beginning of a new chapter in strategic, political and defence cooperation among the three brotherly countries,” Dar said.

The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on political and defence matters, with the three countries reaffirming their commitment to promoting regional security and stability.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman welcomed the inaugural meeting, saying the trilateral mechanism would help advance security, stability and cooperation in the region.

He said the participants had reaffirmed their commitment to promoting regional security and stability.

The meeting comes as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye seek to deepen strategic coordination amid growing security challenges in the region.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement provides a framework for closer defence cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The establishment of the strategic political and defence committee brings Turkiye into a wider trilateral mechanism aimed at enhancing coordination among the three countries.

Pakistan has traditionally maintained close defence ties with Saudi Arabia, while its relations with Turkiye have expanded significantly in recent years, including in defence production and military cooperation.

The Istanbul meeting is expected to provide a regular mechanism for consultations on regional political and security developments and strengthen coordination among the three countries.

Saudi Arabia was represented by Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, while Turkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

The inaugural session reviewed regional and international security developments and explored ways to strengthen the three countries’ collective defence capabilities, military coordination and interoperability.

The participants also discussed enhanced cooperation among their armed forces, including joint exercises, operational coordination and greater collaboration in the defence industry, including possibilities for joint production and development.

The meeting also aimed at establishing institutional mechanisms for implementing decisions taken under the committee.

Earlier, Field Marshal Asim Munir met Turkish National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, with the two sides discussing ways to further strengthen defence cooperation. Turkish Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu also attended the meeting.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also held talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, focusing on bilateral and strategic cooperation and regional security issues.

The Strategic Political and Defence Committee brings together the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Türkiye is hosting its inaugural meeting in Istanbul.

The committee was created under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Makkah on August 7.

The agreement commits the three countries to strengthening collective security and deterrence and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three states would be regarded as an attack against all three. It also provides for broader cooperation across defence and security sectors.

The pact comes as Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia seek closer strategic coordination amid heightened security concerns across the Middle East and wider regional tensions.

For Pakistan, the Istanbul meeting also provides an opportunity to deepen its defence and strategic partnerships with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia while coordinating positions on regional security issues.

The meeting follows the arrival of Field Marshal Munir and Foreign Minister Dar in Istanbul on Sunday ahead of the trilateral consultations. Pakistan’s Foreign Office had said the inaugural meeting would bring together the foreign ministers, defence ministers and military chiefs of the three countries.