Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have taken a significant step toward institutionalising their trilateral defence cooperation, agreeing to establish a permanent secretariat and deepen collaboration in defence production, technology, military activities and collective deterrence under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence.
The landmark discussions were held in Istanbul in the format of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, bringing together senior political and military leadership from all three countries.
Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The meeting focused on strengthening strategic coordination among the three countries, enhancing defence capabilities and developing practical mechanisms for closer cooperation against an increasingly complex regional and global security environment. One of the key outcomes of the Istanbul meeting was the decision to establish a permanent secretariat for the trilateral defence framework.
According to the joint statement issued following the meeting, the secretariat will be headquartered in Saudi Arabia and will initially be headed by a Secretary General from Pakistan for a three-year term. The institutional mechanism is intended to provide a permanent platform for strategic coordination and ensure more effective implementation of decisions taken under the trilateral framework.
The three countries stated that institutionalising the agreement would strengthen their solidarity, reinforce the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence, and contribute to wider regional efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and cooperative security. Beyond political and military coordination, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to significantly expand cooperation in the defence industry.
The joint statement highlighted plans for joint technology development and production, alongside enhanced cooperation in research and development and other areas of defence industrial collaboration. The three countries also agreed to strengthen joint military activities, with the objective of improving the cohesion, coordination and interoperability of their armed forces. The proposed cooperation could provide a broader institutional framework for the three countries to exchange expertise, develop defence technologies and expand industrial partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
The participating countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional peace, stability and security. In their joint statement, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye emphasised their determination to work together under the Makkah Agreement with a sense of regional ownership and a shared objective of achieving sustainable peace and stability. The three sides also expressed support for de-escalation, restraint and peaceful diplomatic solutions to regional crises. The agreement is being given renewed strategic significance amid changing geopolitical dynamics across the Middle East, South Asia and the wider international security environment.
Addressing a press conference following the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that the trilateral defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has been renamed the “Makkah Defence Alliance.” Previously referred to as the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement,” the new designation reflects the evolving institutional character of the trilateral partnership. Fidan said that the three countries were also working on a roadmap for the participation of other countries in the joint defence framework. He emphasised that the alliance is not directed against any particular state and remains open to friendly countries that share and adhere to its principles.
The Turkish Foreign Minister said the agenda of the trilateral partnership would also include strengthening joint efforts against terrorism, enhancing defence capabilities and increasing coordination among the armed forces of the three countries. The discussions further covered global and regional security developments, collective deterrence, defence cooperation and opportunities for expanded collaboration in the defence industry. Fidan stressed that the alliance seeks to strengthen joint defence capabilities while contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
The Istanbul meeting represents an important evolution in the relationship among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. While the Makkah Agreement initially established a framework for joint defence cooperation, the latest decisions introduce concrete institutional, operational and industrial dimensions to the partnership. The creation of a permanent secretariat, the appointment of a Secretary General, plans for joint defence production and technology development, and enhanced military cooperation collectively indicate an effort to transform the agreement into a more structured and functional mechanism.
The three countries concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to the institutionalised and resolute implementation of the agreement and expressing the expectation that strengthened trilateral cooperation would contribute meaningfully to regional peace and stability.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar welcomed the inaugural trilateral meeting in Istanbul. In a message shared on his official social-media account, Dar described the gathering as a significant occasion following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026, in Makkah Mukarramah. The Istanbul meeting subsequently provided the three countries with an opportunity to establish mechanisms for translating the agreement into sustained strategic, defence and institutional cooperation.
The decisions announced in Istanbul mark a new phase in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye’s strategic partnership, moving beyond broad declarations toward a more structured framework for defence coordination. With a permanent secretariat, expanded defence-industrial cooperation, joint technology development, military activities, enhanced interoperability and the possibility of participation by additional friendly states, the Makkah Defence Alliance is positioned to become an important platform for trilateral strategic coordination.
The three countries reiterated that their cooperation is aimed at strengthening collective security, supporting peaceful solutions to regional crises and contributing to a more stable and secure regional environment.
