Türkiye Hosts First Joint Defense Committee Meeting Under Mecca Pact

The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement began in Istanbul on Monday, bringing together senior foreign policy and military officials from Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Türkiye is hosting the inaugural session, which is intended to give strategic direction to activities carried out under the three-country defense framework.

Senior Officials Convene

The committee brings together the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of the three signatory states.

Türkiye is represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

Pakistan’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Saudi Arabia is represented by Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.

The talks began after the delegations gathered for a family photograph.

Interoperability and Defense Industry Cooperation

International security issues are expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

The three sides are also set to consider measures to strengthen their defense capabilities and expand interoperability among their armed forces.

Defense industry cooperation is another central area, including joint production and research and development.

The committee is also expected to discuss stronger joint efforts against terrorism.

Institutional Framework Takes Shape

The Istanbul meeting is set to define the framework for a secretariat and other mechanisms that will oversee work in areas identified by the committee.

Officials are also expected to draw up a road map for the next stages of implementation.

The institutional steps would provide a structure for translating the agreement’s political and defense commitments into coordinated activity among the three countries.

Moving Toward Implementation

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Joint Defense Agreement in Mecca on August 7.

The agreement was presented by the three countries as a response to increasing instability at the regional and international levels, based on shared responsibility and regional ownership.

Its stated objectives include promoting security, peace, stability and prosperity while increasing collective deterrence.

Under the agreement, an attack against any one of the parties is regarded as an attack against all of them.

The framework also allows participation by other actors that respect international law and share what the agreement describes as a vision of peaceful cooperation.

The Istanbul meeting is expected to reinforce the agreement’s emphasis on cooperative security and establish the mechanisms through which Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia intend to pursue its next phase.