ISTANBUL: A high-level meeting of the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia was held in Istanbul, where the three countries issued a joint communiqué outlining strategic political and defence cooperation under the “Makkah Defence Alliance” for collective defence.
According to the communiqué, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to working together to promote sustainable peace, stability and de-escalation in the region, while emphasizing regional ownership and responsibility.
The participants agreed to continue supporting efforts aimed at reducing tensions and pursuing peaceful solutions to regional crises.
The three allied countries also agreed on practical measures to further institutionalize cooperation under the Makkah Defence Alliance and strengthen their collective defence capabilities in a sustainable and effective manner.
As part of these measures, a permanent secretariat will be established in Saudi Arabia under the leadership of a Secretary-General.
For the initial three-year term, the Secretary-General of the secretariat will be from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will also seek to strengthen their defence capabilities through greater cooperation between their defence industries, joint technology development and production, and enhanced coordination among their armed forces.
The three countries reiterated their commitment to implementing the agreement on a sustainable basis and said they would play a key role in promoting regional peace and security.
The Istanbul meeting marks a further step toward institutionalizing defence cooperation among the three countries, with a focus on collective capabilities, military coordination and regional stability.
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