The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, comprising the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of staff of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, will be held in Istanbul tomorrow under Türkiye’s hosting.
The meeting will be held to provide strategic direction for activities carried out under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between the three countries.
Senior-level participation expected
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu are expected to attend the meeting.
The Pakistani delegation will include Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Saudi Arabia is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and Chief of the General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Defense cooperation on the agenda
In addition to international security issues, the meeting will address the development of defense capabilities and efforts to enhance interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries.
The agenda will also include deepening cooperation in the defense industry, including joint production and research and development, as well as strengthening joint efforts to combat terrorism.
Road map for joint mechanisms
The meeting is expected to outline the framework for a Secretariat and other relevant mechanisms that will guide work in the joint areas of activity to be identified by the committee. It is also expected to set a road map for steps to be taken in the coming period.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement aims to promote regional security, peace, stability and prosperity, enhance collective deterrence, and approach security issues through a cooperative framework.
Mecca Joint Defense Agreement
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 stipulates that an attack against any of the parties will be considered an attack against all parties. The text also allows actors that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation to join the agreement.
