Pact launches process for ‘new regional security, cooperation architecture’, says Turkish FM Hakan Fidan
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (C), Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (second L) and Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Khalid Bin Salman (third R) attend the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, in Istanbul, August 31, 2026. PHOTO: AFP
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday that Pakistan would provide the first secretary general of the Makkah Defence Alliance for a period of three years, following the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Defence Alliance in Istanbul.
In a post on X, FO stated that a “Secretariat, headed by a Secretary General, will be established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support their work within the framework of the Makkah Agreement”, further adding that the Secretariat will be initially “headed by a Secretary General from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for a period of three years”.
“The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of Defence as well as Chiefs of Defence Forces/Chiefs of General Staff of the Republic of Türkiye, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gathered in Istanbul on 31 August 2026 in the Strategic Political and Defence Committee format established under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence,” the FO said.
The statement noted that “acting with a sense of regional ownership, the three countries reiterate their determination to work together within the framework of the Makkah Agreement to achieve sustainable peace and stability in their region”, adding that “to that end, they will continue to support efforts towards de- escalation and restraint to encourage peaceful resolution of crises”.
“Today they agreed to take steps to further institutionalise their cooperation within the Makkah Agreement in a manner that would enhance their solidarity, ensure the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence, and contribute to the regional efforts and cooperative security towards a just, inclusive and lasting peace,” the FO stated.
“Through joint activities, they will also work to strengthen their defence capabilities and cohesion of their armed forces through robust defence industry cooperation, joint technology development and production,” the statement added.
It further said that “through the institutionalised and resolute implementation of the Makkah Agreement, the three countries will provide essential contributions to regional peace and stability”.
CDF Munir holds series of high-level engagements
According to the statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff, during his official visit to Turkiye, held a series of high-level engagements in Istanbul.
It said that CDF Munir separately met Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Turkish foreign minister Yaşar Güler, Minister of National Defence of Turkiye; and General Selcuk Bayraktaroğlu, Chief of the Turkish General Staff.
“During the engagements, matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence cooperation and the regional security environment were discussed,” it added.
ISPR said that the CDF Munir also attended the meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, bringing together Pakistan, Turkiye and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The statement noted that the three sides reviewed avenues for further strengthening strategic coordination and defence cooperation.
“The engagements reflected the close bonds of brotherhood and growing strategic and defence cooperation among Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye,” it added.
Saudi defence minister, CDF Munir, discusses military cooperation
Saudi defence minister and CDF Munir also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and regional developments.
The meeting was held in Istanbul on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
The two officials reviewed “prospects for military and defence cooperation between the two brotherly countries,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They also discussed “regional developments and the efforts being made in response to them,” the agency added.
Pact launches process for ‘new regional security, cooperation architecture’: Turkish FM Hakan Fidan
Earlier in the day, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had said that the Makkah Defence Agreement launched a process to establish a “new security and cooperation architecture” in the region. “With this alliance, we will see greater stability gradually emerge in the region and uncertainty diminish,” he said during a press conference following the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul.
Fidan also said the Makkah Defence Alliance was “established to expand.” He said preliminary decisions had been taken on the institutional arrangements needed to develop the alliance, adding that Turkiye would continue supporting efforts to establish its institutional framework.
The Turkish FM described the alliance as a defence pact that would respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs.
He said the alliance would also remain open to other countries in the region. He added that the “peaceful vision” underpinning the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement could be pursued jointly with countries across the region.
Fidan clarified that the agreement would not replace the countries’ obligations under international organisations such as NATO, but would complement those responsibilities.
“We have reaffirmed once again that we are ready to assume responsibility for regional peace and stability,” he said, adding that Turkiye would continue to work closely with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.
Asked about recent remarks by the Netanyahu government portraying Türkiye as a strategic threat, he said: “Netanyahu, who has become a common enemy of humanity, the international community and security, is not a person to be taken seriously.” “The international system must fight against the Netanyahu threat,” he added.
Türkiye is hosting the inaugural meeting of the committee, which was established to provide strategic direction for activities under the agreement and brings together the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of general staff of Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Following a photo, the meeting began with the participation of Turkish FM, National Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir; and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff Gen Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
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Participants discussed international security issues, the development of defence capabilities, promoting interoperability among the three countries’ armed forces, deepening defence industry cooperation, including joint production and research and development, and strengthening joint efforts to combat terrorism.
The meeting also outlined the framework for the Secretariat and other relevant mechanisms that will coordinate work in areas identified by the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, as well as determine a roadmap for future steps.
The gathering reaffirmed that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, aimed at strengthening security, peace and stability in the region, offers opportunities for countries that adopt a cooperative approach to security and prioritise peace and prosperity over conflict.
Earlier, CDF Munir met the Turkish defence minister ahead of the meeting. The Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced the meeting on X.
Defence Minister Asif had also met Güler. According to Radio Pakistan, Asif agreed to enhance joint defence cooperation in the region during the meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul. Güler was flanked by Turkish Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu during the meeting with the defence minister.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7.
Signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia based on shared responsibility and regional ownership amid growing regional and global instability, the agreement aims to promote security, peace, stability and prosperity while strengthening collective deterrence.
The agreement stipulates that an attack against any one of the signatory states will be considered an attack against all parties.
It also seeks to foster a new culture of regional cooperation and remains open to the participation of actors that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation.
Reference Link:- https://tribune.com.pk/story/2626702/pakistan-turkiye-agree-to-strengthen-regional-defence-cooperation