Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye review Makkah Defence Pact progress

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have looked at how far they have advanced in building the bodies provided for by the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Mettis Global reported. The three countries reaffirmed their intent to widen trilateral defence cooperation. The review was held during a meeting of the three foreign ministers on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York.

Ishaq Dar, who serves as deputy prime minister and foreign minister, took part alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The details came from a press release issued after the talks. In a post on X, Dar said the three sides also compared views on security issues in the region and beyond.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed in August, creating a trilateral security framework that targets joint protection and stability across the region. It came as the three countries, all Sunni Muslim partners of the United States, responded to rising regional tensions, including missile attacks on Gulf oil exporters and disruption to energy shipments. Mettis Global noted that the pact could become the base for a broader regional security arrangement that other states might join.