Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have agreed to institutionalise their defence and security cooperation under the Makkah Defence Alliance, indicating a significant step towards strengthening collective deterrence and regional security.
The decision was announced following the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Agreement in Istanbul. The meeting brought together foreign and defence ministers and senior military officials from the three countries.
Pakistan was represented by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Under the arrangement, a permanent secretariat will be established in Saudi Arabia to support the alliance’s activities. The Foreign Office said the secretariat will initially be headed by a Pakistani secretary general for a three-year term.
The three countries agreed to increase their cooperation to strengthen solidarity and ensure the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence capabilities.
The agreement also seeks to support broader regional efforts aimed at cooperative security, de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of crises.
In this regard, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye confirmed their commitment to working together for sustainable peace and stability while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.
The countries also agreed to strengthen their defence capabilities through joint military activities, greater defence industry cooperation and joint development and production of technology.
Turkiye Calls It ‘Makkah Defence Alliance’
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the tripartite arrangement would officially be known as the “Makkah Defence Alliance” and confirmed that its first secretary general would come from Pakistan.
He stressed that the alliance was designed around principles including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
Fidan also said the alliance was not directed against any particular country and could potentially be expanded to include other states, subject to agreed conditions and standards.
The alliance is expected to deepen military cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye through joint activities and closer coordination between their armed forces.
The agreement does not replace the three countries’ existing international partnerships or security commitments. Instead, Fidan said, the new framework would provide another mechanism for coordinating regional security efforts.
The tripartite defence pact was signed in Makkah on August 7. Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member is to be treated as an attack against all three members.
The Istanbul meeting represents a major step in translating the Makkah Agreement into a more structured institutional framework, with the three countries now moving towards closer defence coordination and long-term regional security cooperation.
