RIYADH, The Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement will meet in Riyadh on Monday.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan will take part in the meeting. Their foreign ministers, defense ministers and military chiefs are expected to attend.
The meeting will review recent developments in the Middle East. It will also discuss the progress of efforts to build the pact’s institutions.
Türkiye to Present Its Position
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will present Türkiye’s views on the pact’s institutionalization process.
He is also expected to discuss the next steps for the alliance. Turkish officials will assess threats to peace and stability in the region.
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Türkiye is also expected to reaffirm its support for Saudi Arabia amid recent Houthi attacks. Ankara has stressed the need to protect regional stability and avoid further escalation.
The committee is also expected to discuss regional security and the safety of international trade routes. Turkish officials are expected to stress peaceful solutions to regional disputes.
Second Committee Meeting
The three countries held the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee in Istanbul on August 31.
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The meeting brought together their foreign and defense ministers and military chiefs. The three sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under the Makkah agreement.
They also backed efforts to reduce tensions and promote peaceful solutions to regional crises. In addition, they agreed to further institutionalize cooperation under the pact.
The agreement also provides for a secretariat in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan will provide the first secretary-general for an initial three-year term.
Regional Security and Houthi Attacks
The Riyadh meeting comes amid growing tensions involving Yemen’s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Iran had suggested political engagement with the Houthis. He said the three pact members would discuss the proposal at their Riyadh meeting.
The meeting also comes as Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has announced a major military operation against the Houthis. The development is expected to add to the regional security discussions in Riyadh.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan in August. It states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all three.
