Afət Ziyadqızı
The next high-level meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being held today in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing sources at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff, Army General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu are attending the meeting.
Fidan is expected to present Ankara’s official position on institutionalizing the military-political alliance, the start of the secretariat’s operations in Riyadh and its next strategic steps. The Turkish diplomat is also expected to condemn what the article describes as provocative Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and its holy sites, and reaffirm Ankara’s strong solidarity with Riyadh. The participants also plan to discuss ensuring the security of international maritime trade routes and presenting a common position against what the article describes as Israel’s destabilizing activities in the region.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed on Aug. 7, 2026, by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The alliance aims to strengthen the participating countries’ joint deterrence and defense capabilities. Its inaugural meeting was held in Istanbul on Aug. 31, followed by working meetings of ministers and chiefs of general staff in New York and Riyadh in September. Retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmud has been nominated as the alliance’s first secretary-general.
