Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to hold first defence pact meeting, source says

Istanbul will host a landmark defence pact meeting on Monday, according to a Turkish foreign ministry source. The gathering will feature top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, marking the first committee meeting under the newly signed joint defence accord. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, inked on August 7, unites Sunni Muslim U.S. allies grappling with the Iran conflict and regional tensions that have prompted Iranian missile strikes on Gulf oil producers.

The agreement aims to bolster collective deterrence against any act of aggression, with the principle that an armed attack on any of the three nations would be considered an attack on all, akin to NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause. The foreign and defense ministers, as well as the chiefs of staff, from the three countries will participate in the Istanbul meeting, where international security concerns will be the primary focus.

Discussions are anticipated to encompass bolstering defense capabilities, enhancing interoperability among armed forces, and deepening cooperation in the defense industry, including joint production and development efforts.