ISTANBUL: Leaders and senior defence officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on Monday attended the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA).
Pakistan was represented by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
The meeting was held at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, where foreign and defence ministers and senior military officials from the three countries gathered for the inaugural session and a group photograph.
Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. Saudi Arabia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Before the trilateral meeting, Field Marshal Munir held talks with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler in Istanbul. Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence said the two officials discussed bilateral defence matters. General Bayraktaroğlu also attended the meeting.
The inaugural committee session follows the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be treated as an attack against all three.
The agreement brings together three strategically important Muslim-majority countries with distinct military and economic capabilities. Pakistan has a nuclear-armed military, Türkiye is a NATO member with a growing defence industry, while Saudi Arabia is a major economic power and an influential Gulf state.
According to Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the Strategic Political and Defence Committee was established to provide strategic direction for implementing the trilateral defence agreement.
The meeting is expected to focus on regional and international security developments, strengthening defence capabilities and improving interoperability between the armed forces of the three countries.
Officials are also expected to discuss expanded cooperation in the defence industry, including joint production, research and development, as well as enhanced counterterrorism cooperation.
Pakistan has repeatedly described the agreement as defensive in nature, stressing that it is not directed against any particular country. Islamabad has also indicated that other countries could potentially join the arrangement if they agree to uphold its core principles.
The first committee meeting marks a significant step toward translating the Makkah agreement into practical military, political and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
