Makkah Defence Alliance: Pakistan Secures First Leadership Position in New Security Bloc

ISTANBUL: The trilateral defence pact between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia has been renamed the “Makkah Defence Alliance”, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Monday, with the alliance’s first secretary general set to be appointed from Pakistan.

Speaking at a press conference following the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul, Fidan said the alliance’s secretariat would be established in Riyadh.

The agreement was previously known as the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.”

Alliance to Strengthen Collective Defence

Fidan said the three countries were working on a roadmap for the possible participation of additional friendly states in the defence framework.

He said the meeting focused on strengthening regional peace, stability and prosperity amid growing regional and global tensions.

The three countries discussed shared responsibilities, regional and international security developments, strengthening defence capabilities and improving coordination among their armed forces.

According to Fidan, the alliance aims to enhance joint defence capabilities and collective deterrence while also expanding cooperation against terrorism.

The agenda also includes defence-industry cooperation, including joint production, research and development, as well as the establishment of mechanisms to coordinate the alliance’s future activities.

Fidan stressed that the alliance is not directed against any particular state and remains open to friendly countries that share its principles.

Pakistan Takes Key Role

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir represented Pakistan at the high-level meeting.

The announcement that the first secretary general will be Pakistani gives Islamabad a prominent institutional role in the emerging defence framework.

The secretariat will be based in Riyadh, while the three countries are expected to continue developing mechanisms for closer military and strategic coordination.

Agreement Includes Collective Defence Commitment

The defence agreement, signed on August 7, was designed to strengthen collective deterrence among Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three, reflecting a collective-defence principle comparable in concept to Article 5 of the NATO alliance.

The agreement comes amid heightened security tensions across the Middle East and growing concerns over the possibility of further regional escalation.

Asim Munir Holds High-Level Meetings

During his official visit to Türkiye, Field Marshal Asim Munir also held separate meetings with senior Turkish and Saudi officials, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The army chief met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of the Turkish General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

The discussions covered bilateral defence cooperation, matters of mutual interest and the regional security environment.

Munir also attended the meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, where the three sides reviewed opportunities to further strengthen strategic coordination and military cooperation.

Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia Deepen Strategic Ties

The meetings highlight the growing defence and strategic cooperation among the three countries, which share longstanding political, economic and security ties.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman separately said he discussed prospects for military and defence cooperation with Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with developments in the regional security situation.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif met his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler in Istanbul. The two sides agreed to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation and coordination.

The formation of the Makkah Defence Alliance marks a significant development in trilateral security cooperation, with Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia now seeking to build a broader framework for collective defence, deterrence and regional stability.