Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye Agree to Institutionalize Mecca Defence Pact; Secretariat to Be Established in Saudi Arabia

ISTANBUL, Aug 31: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to further institutionalize their cooperation under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, with the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Saudi Arabia and a Pakistani secretary-general to head it for an initial three-year term.

The decision was announced in a joint statement issued after the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul.

The meeting was attended by the foreign and defence ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, as well as commanders of the armed forces and chiefs of general staff of the three countries.

According to the joint statement, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to working together within the framework of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to promote lasting peace and stability in the region.

The three countries also expressed support for efforts aimed at de-escalation, restraint and the peaceful resolution of regional crises.

The joint statement said the three countries had agreed to take additional steps to further institutionalize cooperation under the defence pact. The measures are aimed at strengthening solidarity among the three countries and enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of collective deterrence and collective defence.

A key decision taken at the Istanbul meeting was the establishment of a secretariat in Saudi Arabia to support the implementation and coordination of the agreement.

The secretariat will be headed by a secretary-general. For the initial phase, the position will be held by a secretary-general from Pakistan for a period of three years.

The establishment of the secretariat is intended to provide a permanent institutional mechanism for coordinating activities and strengthening defence cooperation among the three countries.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye also agreed to enhance their defence capabilities through joint activities and to strengthen cooperation and interoperability among their armed forces.

The three countries further agreed to deepen cooperation in the defence industry, including joint production and the development of defence technologies.

The move could pave the way for expanded cooperation in defence research, technology, equipment and joint production, although the joint statement did not specify particular projects or procurement programmes.

The three countries reiterated that the effective institutional and practical implementation of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement would contribute to regional peace and stability.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Makkah on Aug. 7, 2026. The Istanbul meeting represents a significant step towards establishing an institutional framework for implementing the agreement.

Under the agreement, the three countries have committed themselves to strengthening defence cooperation and collective deterrence. A key provision of the pact stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all three.

The Istanbul statement, however, focused primarily on implementation and institutional mechanisms rather than identifying any third country as a potential adversary.

The agreement is therefore being developed around three principal areas: strengthening collective defence and deterrence, expanding military and defence-industrial cooperation, and establishing a permanent institutional structure to coordinate the partnership.

The decision to establish the secretariat in Saudi Arabia, with a Pakistani secretary-general serving an initial three-year term, gives Pakistan a prominent role in the early institutional development and implementation of the trilateral defence framework.