Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to hold first defense pact meeting in Istanbul

Turkey will host Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in Istanbul on Monday for the first ministerial meeting of their new defense pact, Turkish sources said Sunday. The meeting follows the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed earlier this month, which commits the three countries to mutual defense if any of them is attacked.

What is the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement?

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is a pact signed this month by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. It obligates each signatory to come to the others' defense if attacked. The agreement combines NATO's second-largest army, Turkey, with Pakistan, the Islamic world's only nuclear-armed state, and Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's leading power.

What will Monday's meeting in Istanbul cover?

The meeting will set up a political and defense strategic committee involving foreign and defense ministers and military chiefs, Turkish foreign ministry sources said. Monday's session will be chaired by Turkey's foreign and defense ministers along with the chief of the general staff. Participants plan to address international security, boost defense capabilities, and discuss interoperability between their armed forces and cooperation in the defense industry, Ankara said.

The pact was signed against a backdrop of war between the United States and Iran and attacks in the region by Tehran-backed Houthi rebels. Those tensions have added urgency to the three countries' push to formalize coordination.

Who is representing Pakistan and Saudi Arabia at the meeting?

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, arrived in Istanbul on Sunday for a series of official engagements. He was received by Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Brigadier General Şenol Varol, Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkey Dr Yousaf Junaid, Turkish Foreign Ministry Ambassador Cihad Erginay and other senior Turkish officials. The visit forms part of Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic engagement with Turkey and is expected to focus on bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Saudi Arabia will be represented by its foreign minister, defense minister and chief of the general staff, Turkish sources said.