Key Takeaways
- Pakistan has named retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary General of the Makkah Defense Alliance.
- The alliance, involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, aims to strengthen defense cooperation.
- The appointment was made following an agreement signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026.
Pakistan has appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary General of the Makkah Defense Alliance, announced the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
The alliance, which also includes Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, is set to establish its General Secretariat in Riyadh.
Under the joint statement issued after the alliance’s inaugural Strategic Political and Defense Committee meeting in Istanbul on August 31, 2026, Pakistan was designated to provide the first Secretary General for an initial three-year term.
This appointment fulfills an earlier announcement by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who stated that the secretariat would be established in Riyadh.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, aims to enhance defense cooperation and collective deterrence among the three countries.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has described the agreement as defensive in nature, emphasizing that it is not directed against any country.
The first Strategic Political and Defense Committee meeting was held in Istanbul on August 31, 2026, with senior officials from the three countries participating.
The countries agreed to further institutionalize cooperation under the agreement and strengthen defense capabilities through joint activities, technology development, and defense industry cooperation.
