ISTANBUL — The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defense Pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan will be held in Istanbul on Monday, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.The high-level meeting is expected to bring together the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of the three countries to set the strategic direction for implementing the landmark defense pact signed in Makkah earlier this month.The committee was established under the Makkah Joint Defense Pact to provide strategic direction for activities and cooperation among the three countries, Anadolu Agency reported.Monday's meeting is expected to address international security developments and discuss measures to strengthen joint defense capabilities and increase interoperability among the Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani armed forces.Officials are also expected to discuss expanding defense industry cooperation, including joint production and research and development, as well as strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism.The meeting is expected to establish a framework for a secretariat and other mechanisms responsible for coordinating areas of joint activity identified by the committee.Participants are also expected to draw up a roadmap for implementing the pact and advancing trilateral defense cooperation in the coming period.The meeting is expected to underscore the pact's role in promoting regional security, peace and stability through a cooperative security framework, while remaining open to countries that respect international law and share its vision of peaceful cooperation.Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Pact in Makkah on Aug. 7.At the heart of the pact is a collective defense provision stipulating that an attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all.
