Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to gather in Istanbul for the first committee meeting established under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
The meeting represents the first formal step towards implementing the trilateral defence pact signed by the three countries in Makkah on August 7.
According to the Turkish foreign ministry, discussions will focus on international security, military coordination and ways to deepen defence cooperation among the three participating countries.
Foreign ministers, defence ministers and military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to attend the meeting.
First Formal Meeting Under Defence Agreement
The Istanbul gathering will be the first meeting of the strategic political and defence committee created under the agreement.
The committee is expected to develop practical mechanisms for implementing the pact and coordinating security policies among the three countries.
The discussions are likely to cover military planning, intelligence coordination, training programmes and the development of stronger communication channels between their armed forces.
The three countries are also expected to review current regional and international security challenges.
Pact Includes Collective-Defence Commitment
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 in the Saudi holy city of Makkah.
One of its most significant provisions states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has described this principle as technically comparable to NATO’s Article 5 collective-defence provision.
Article 5 establishes that an attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against the entire alliance. However, the Mecca agreement operates independently and does not replace the participating countries’ existing security relationships.
Pakistan has stressed that the pact is defensive and is not directed against Iran, Israel or any other particular country.
Joint Military Exercises Planned
The three countries are expected to develop a programme of joint military exercises involving their land, naval and air forces.
Such exercises could help improve interoperability, allowing their armed forces to communicate and operate together more effectively during security emergencies.
Cooperation is also expected to include air defence, unmanned systems, electronic warfare, military logistics and maritime security.
The agreement establishes a framework through which military officials can coordinate planning and exchange technical knowledge.
Defence Industry Cooperation on Agenda
Defence-industry cooperation will be another important subject during the Istanbul meeting.
Turkey has developed a growing defence-manufacturing sector, particularly in drones, missiles, armoured vehicles, naval platforms and electronic-warfare systems.
Pakistan possesses an established military-industrial sector and produces aircraft, armoured vehicles, weapons and other defence equipment. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has been investing heavily in developing domestic defence-production capabilities.
Closer cooperation could include joint research, technology transfers, equipment production and long-term maintenance arrangements.
The participating countries may also explore joint development of unmanned and autonomous military systems and technologies using artificial intelligence.
Agreement Reflects Growing Regional Cooperation
The defence pact comes amid rising security concerns across the Middle East and surrounding regions.
Regional conflicts, missile and drone threats, attacks on maritime trade routes and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz have increased pressure on governments to strengthen their defence capabilities.
The agreement allows Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan to coordinate their responses while maintaining their existing alliances and international partnerships.
Turkey possesses NATO’s second-largest military, Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state with significant military experience, and Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s major energy exporters.
Together, the three countries could form an influential defence partnership connecting the Middle East, South Asia and the eastern Mediterranean.
The outcome of the Istanbul meeting is expected to provide the first indication of how the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement will function in practice and which areas of military cooperation will receive priority.
