Makkah defence pact: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye hold first strategic committee meeting

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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

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

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.