Riyadh:Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that efforts to institutionalize the Mecca Joint Defense Alliance have reached their final stages. He highlighted that the recent meeting of the alliance’s Strategic Political and Defense Committee addressed several structural and organizational issues.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting, held in Riyadh, was initially planned to focus on mechanisms for institutionalizing the alliance. However, due to developments in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, an extraordinary session was convened. The discussions included the structure of the alliance’s General Secretariat, the appointment of a new Secretary-General, and steps to enhance the alliance’s operations.

Fidan emphasized that the meeting also explored solutions for the Yemen situation via dialogue and peaceful means, commending Saudi Arabia’s constructive efforts in resolving the crisis. He stressed the significance of ongoing consultations among member states and praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s commitment to the alliance, noting decisions made to advance this commitment.

He acknowledged the valuable contributions of Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu in discussions with alliance counterparts. The meeting also covered strengthening the alliance’s institutional presence and future military and technical directions.

The Strategic Political and Defense Committee includes foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of staff from the three countries. Its inaugural meeting took place in Istanbul on August 31, where foundational decisions for the alliance were made. The establishment of the General Secretariat in Riyadh is anticipated soon, following a series of meetings in New York and Riyadh in late September.