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

Istanbul will host a committee meeting on Monday featuring top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, according to a Turkish foreign ministry source. This marks the inaugural meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which was signed on August 7. The agreement, signed by Sunni Muslim U.S. allies apprehensive about the Iran conflict and regional unrest that has resulted in Iranian missile attacks on Gulf oil producers, aims to bolster collective deterrence against any act of aggression.

The treaty stipulates that an armed assault on any one of the three nations would be considered an attack on all, akin to NATO's Article 5 collective defense provision. During the Istanbul gathering, foreign and defense ministers, as well as the chiefs of staff, from the three countries will participate. The agenda will include international security matters, with discussions likely to focus on enhancing defense capabilities, improving interoperability among armed forces, and strengthening cooperation in the defense sector, including joint manufacturing and development.