Istanbul: Istanbul will host on Monday the first meeting of the Committee/Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense at the level of foreign and defense ministers. Istanbul will host the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee on Monday, established within the framework of the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense” signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan on August 7.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, citing sources in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, along with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar, are expected to participate in the meeting. Also expected to attend are Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Gler, his Saudi counterpart Khalid bin Salman, and his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif, as well as Turkish Chief of the General Staff Sel§uk Bayraktaoglu, and his Saudi and Pakistani counterparts Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili and Asim Munir, respectively.
The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, hosted by Turkey, is intended to include the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of staff of the three countries and to develop the strategic direction for activities to be implemented under the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense.” The meeting is scheduled to address international security issues, along with exploring ways to develop defense capabilities and enhance interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries.
Participants are expected to discuss deepening cooperation in the defense industries, including joint production, research and development, as well as strengthening joint efforts in combating terrorism. The meeting is also expected to outline the general framework for the Secretariat and other relevant mechanisms that will guide work in areas of joint activity identified by the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, in addition to developing a roadmap for the steps to be taken in the coming phase.
The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to reaffirm that the “Mecca Agreement” offers significant opportunities for countries aiming to promote security, peace, and stability in the region, adopting a cooperative security approach to addressing issues, and prioritizing peace and prosperity over conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the “Joint Defense Agreement” on August 7 in Mecca.
The agreement falls within the framework of defense cooperation aimed at strengthening commitments to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity at both the regional and global levels, based on the principle of burden-sharing and a shared understanding of security. The agreement aims to enhance collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that any armed attack on any of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three.