Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan launch Makkah Defense Alliance
A secretariat has been set up in Riyadh, and the pact is open to other Muslim countries, with Egypt and Bangladesh interested.
Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Monday held their first meeting in Istanbul to formalize the name of their new pact as the Makkah Defense Alliance. The pact, signed on Aug. 7, includes the principle of collective defense: an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. After the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the alliance secretariat has been established in Riyadh, while the first secretary general will come from Pakistan. The meeting agenda covered international security, improved military interoperability, and cooperation in the defense industry and joint development. Ankara also said the alliance remains open to other countries; Egypt is reviewing legal and constitutional issues, while Bangladesh has expressed interest.