• ‘Makkah Defence Alliance’ christened at maiden Istanbul meeting
• Members agree to further institutionalise cooperation, strengthen collective defence
• Fidan says alliance open for participation of any other country, does not affect existing pacts
• CDF meets Saudi, Turkish defence ministers
• Dar heads to Bishkek

ISLAMABAD: As officials from all member states met in Istanbul to establish the institutional structure of the alliance formed under the Makkah defence pact, Pakistan has been picked to head its secretariat in Riyadh for three years amid hopes of further expansion.

These decisions were made at the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, attended by foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. The meeting also officially named the coalition as the ‘Makkah Defence Alliance’.

In a statement issued after the meeting on Monday, the Foreign Office said the members agreed to further institutionalise their cooperation to strengthen collective deterrence and defence.

According to the FO, a secretariat headed by a secretary general will be established in Saudi Arabia to support the alliance’s work under the agreement. The secretariat will initially be headed by a secretary general from Pakistan for three years.

The three countries also agreed to take steps to further institutionalise their cooperation in a manner that would enhance their solidarity, ensure the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence, and contribute to regional efforts and cooperative security towards a just, inclusive and lasting peace.

“Acting with a sense of regional ownership, the three countries reiterate their determination to work together within the framework of the Makkah Agreement to achieve sustainable peace and stability in their region. To that end, they will continue to support efforts towards de-escalation and restraint to encourage peaceful resolution of crises,” added the FO statement.

The three countries will also seek to strengthen their defence capabilities and the cohesion of their armed forces through joint activities, robust defence industry cooperation, and joint technology development and production, the FO said. “Through the institutionalised and resolute implementation of the Makkah Agreement, the three countries will provide essential contributions to regional peace and stability,” it added.

‘Makkah Defence Alliance’

Earlier, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the tripartite agreement will be known as the ‘Makkah Defence Alliance’. In a press conference, he said the meeting was held “in relation to the concrete steps that are going to be taken for the implementation of the agreement” and an exchange of views was held for that purpose.

“As of today, we have started the process of establishing the institutional structure of the alliance,” Mr Fidan said. “For the future of a secure, stable and prosperous region, this alliance is based on international principles such as respecting the sovereignty of other states, territorial integrity and not intervening in internal affairs,” he said, adding that the alliance was not against any country.

He maintained that the alliance was “open for the partnership and participation of any other country”. However, Mr Fidan stressed that there were “some conditions, rules and standards”, adding that the alliance’s nature was such that it was “expected to expand”.

“If an ally wants to join, the alliance should be functional in a proper manner by then,” he said, adding that the alliance did not “eliminate our countries’ responsibilities to other agreements or alliances”.

“We will closely cooperate with friendly countries, and we will continue coordinating our efforts,” he said. He also noted that the lack of “alliances and trust” between regional countries had given rise to security problems.

Bilateral meetings

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir on the sidelines of the meeting, according to a post on his X account. The statement said that he and Field Marshal Munir reviewed the potential for military and defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh and “discussed developments in the regional situation and the efforts being made in response to them”.

CDF Munir also met Turkish National Defence Minister Yasar Guler. In a post on X, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence shared a video of CDF Munir meeting Güler.

The Turkish minister also held a separate meeting with Khawaja Asif, with Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu in attendance. According to Radio Pakistan, Kh Asif and the Turkish leadership agreed to enhance joint defence cooperation in the region.

Meanwhile, Turkiye’s foreign minister met his Saudi counterpart on the margins of the trilateral moot. Mr Fidan already held a meeting with FM Ishaq Dar on Sunday.

After concluding his visit to Istanbul, Mr Dar departed for Bishkek alongside the Turkish foreign and defence ministers, the FO said. He will join Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation for the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting and the SCO Plus Summit.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026