Istanbul hosts inaugural political and defense committee meeting under Makkah defense pact

On Monday, the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee commenced in Istanbul under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, which was signed by Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The gathering of foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of staff aims to establish the strategic direction for the agreement's activities.

The committee will tackle global security concerns, bolster defense capabilities, and improve coordination among the armed forces of the three nations. Additionally, cooperation in defense industries, such as joint production and research and development, will be enhanced. The formation of a General Secretariat and other mechanisms to guide work in joint activities is also expected.

President Erdogan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially signed the agreement on August 7, 2026, as part of defense cooperation efforts to safeguard peace, stability, and well-being on regional and global scales. The pact emphasizes burden-sharing and a shared understanding of security, aiming to strengthen collective deterrence against hostile actions and consider any armed attack on any of the three countries as an attack on all.