Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will attend a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
The meeting will focus on strengthening and institutionalising the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, as well as regional security developments and emerging threats to peace and stability in the Middle East.
Fidan is expected to present Türkiye’s position on developing the alliance’s institutional framework and outline steps planned for the coming period. He is also expected to discuss regional developments affecting the collective security of the three member states.
The Turkish foreign minister is expected to reaffirm Ankara’s support for Saudi Arabia amid recent Houthi attacks and stress that any provocative actions targeting holy sites are unacceptable.
Fidan is also likely to emphasise the alliance’s role in developing coordinated responses to existing security threats and preventing future regional crises. He is expected to call for disputes to be resolved through peaceful means and caution against steps that could further escalate tensions.
The Turkish side is also expected to underline the importance of maintaining safe and unrestricted navigation along international trade routes and discuss developments affecting regional peace and stability.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation among Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and enhance collective deterrence and defence capabilities.
A Strategic Political and Defence Committee comprising the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of the three countries was established to oversee implementation of the agreement.
The committee held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on August 31, where members discussed foundational measures and plans to establish the alliance’s secretariat in Riyadh.
Retired Pakistani Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood was nominated as the alliance’s first secretary-general.
The foreign ministers of the three countries later met in New York on September 24 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss regional developments and implementation of the agreement.
The military chiefs of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also held a meeting in Riyadh on September 25.
