Key Takeaways
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have agreed to further institutionalise their cooperation under the Makkah Agreement.
- The alliance’s secretariat will initially be headed by Pakistan for three years.
- The three countries aim to enhance regional peace and stability through joint activities and defence industry cooperation.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have agreed to further institutionalise their cooperation under the Makkah Agreement, with the alliance’s secretariat to be initially headed by Pakistan for three years, according to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO).
The decision was taken at the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Agreement, held in Istanbul. Foreign and defence ministers of the three countries, as well as top military officials, attended the meeting in Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif represented Pakistan at the meeting.
The FO statement noted that 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 a period of 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, according to the FO statement.
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that the tripartite agreement between Ankara, Islamabad and Riyadh will be known as the ‘Makkah Defence Alliance’, with its first secretary general to be from Pakistan. He made the announcement during a press conference following the first meeting of the committee, established under the agreement.
During the meeting, decisions were taken on 'how and when to begin institutionalisation and all concrete steps that are going to be taken for the implementation of the agreement', Fidan said. He added that the agreement’s official name will be ‘Makkah Defence Alliance’ and that the secretariat has been established in Riyadh, with the first secretary general to be appointed amongst their Pakistani brothers.
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.
