Istanbul will host on Monday the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said Sunday that the meeting would bring together the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of the three countries. The Saudi delegation includes Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili. Türkiye will be represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. Pakistan, for its part, will be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Meeting Agenda According to the sources, the meeting aims to discuss international security issues, develop defense capabilities, enhance operational interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries and deepen cooperation in the defense industry, including joint production and research and development. It will also seek to strengthen joint counterterrorism efforts. The sources added that the meeting is expected to establish a framework for the secretariat and other relevant mechanisms that will guide work in areas of joint activity to be identified by the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, as well as draw up a road map for future steps. The sources told the official Anadolu Agency that the meeting would provide an opportunity to reaffirm that the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement offers significant opportunities for all countries in the region, with the aim of strengthening security, peace and stability, addressing issues in a spirit of security cooperation and prioritizing peace and prosperity over conflict. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in Makkah on Aug. 7, marking a pivotal step toward a long-term partnership based on the principles of deterrence, coordination and defense integration among the three countries, contributing to security and stability in the region and the world. The deal aims to strengthen security, peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world and bolster collective deterrence. It stipulates that any attack on one of the signatory countries will be considered an attack on all parties. It further seeks to foster a new culture of cooperation in the region, is open to all parties that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation. US Welcome US President Donald Trump expressed his strong support for the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between the three countries, describing it as a “big, bold, and important first step.” Writing on his Truth Social platform on Aug. 16, Trump said he was “very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement,” adding that it showed “how the Middle East is coming together, and how countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way.”
