Makkah Defence pact launches process for ‘new regional security, cooperation architecture’: Turkish FM

The Makkah Defence Agreement has launched a process to establish a “new security and cooperation architecture” in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday.

Speaking in Istanbul following the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Fidan said the alliance is expected to contribute to “greater regional stability.” “With this alliance, we will see greater stability gradually emerge in the region and uncertainty diminish,” he said.

Fidan also said the Makkah Defence Alliance was “established with the aim of expanding.”

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 in 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 on the basis of 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.