Turkey, Saudi, Pak to meet on Mecca Pact
Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to convene in Istanbul for the inaugural committee meeting under their recently signed joint defence accord, according to a Turkish foreign ministry source. The "Makkah Joint Defence Agreement," inked on August 7, aims to bolster collective deterrence against any aggression, akin to NATO's Article 5.
High-ranking officials from the three nations, including foreign and defence ministers and chiefs of staff, are expected to attend the meeting in Istanbul. Discussions are anticipated to encompass strengthening defence capabilities, improving interoperability among armed forces, and intensifying cooperation in defense industries, such as joint production and development.
The accord, which Turkey's military, the second-largest among NATO members, supports, is open to expansion, with Egypt potentially joining as a new member. The pact, signed amid the ongoing US-Iran war, addresses shared concerns about regional stability, particularly the military postures of Israel and Iran, and the energy crisis precipitated by the conflict.
Six months after the US-led military intervention in Iran, negotiations have stalled, and the Trump administration has intensified economic sanctions against Iran, dubbed as an "economic D-Day."
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