Makkah Defense Pact Sets Up Saudi Secretariat Under Pakistani Secretary-General

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have agreed to create a secretariat for their Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in Saudi Arabia, giving the three-country defense partnership a permanent institutional base.

The decision followed the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee in Istanbul. Foreign and defense ministers, along with military chiefs from the three countries, attended the meeting. The secretariat will be headed by a secretary-general, with a Pakistani official holding the post for an initial three-year term.

The countries said they wanted to strengthen the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defense. They also renewed commitments to de-escalation and restraint, saying these could support peaceful solutions to regional crises.

The agreement includes plans to improve defense capabilities and military cohesion through joint activities. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will also explore closer defense-industry cooperation, including joint production and technology development.

In their joint statement, the three governments said they were taking further steps to institutionalize cooperation under the Makkah agreement and contribute to regional security while pursuing “a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.”

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Today, the three countries agreed to take further steps to institutionalize cooperation under the Makkah Agreement to strengthen solidarity, ensure the credibility and effectiveness of collective deterrence and defense, and contribute to cooperative regional security efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.