Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan Convene for Historic First Defence Pact Committee Meeting in Istanbul

Turkish, Saudi Arabian, and Pakistani officials gathered in Istanbul on Monday for the inaugural committee meeting under their recently signed joint defence accord. High-ranking participants included the foreign ministers, defence ministers, and senior army officials representing all three nations.

The close allies of the US originally signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 with the goal of deepening military and defence co-operation. Under this accord, any armed attack against a single member is officially regarded as an attack on all three, mirroring the collective defence clause found in Nato's Article 5. Following the signing, the nations announced the creation of specific political and military mechanisms designed to co-ordinate defence and security policies.

Prince Khaled bin Salman, the Saudi Defence Minister, stated on X that his country used the Istanbul meeting to reaffirm its dedication to advancing the agreement's various tracks, aiming to bolster joint political and defence integration while safeguarding regional security and stability.

This landmark pact comes at a time when the Middle East is embroiled in the Iran war, a conflict marked by sporadic Iranian missile attacks on Gulf states that have heightened security anxieties across the region. On Monday, the UAE issued a strong condemnation of a recent Iranian attack, labeling it a dangerous escalation that poses a direct threat to the safety of citizens and residents. This development followed an announcement from Jordan confirming the interception of eight missiles after Iran claimed responsibility for targeting US bases within the kingdom in retaliation for overnight American strikes near Larak Island close to the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed after the Istanbul talks that officials are currently developing a road map to manage potential expansion as other nations express interest in joining the joint pact. Earlier this month, Egypt indicated the need to carefully review legal and constitutional matters prior to making a final decision on joining the defence agreement.