A committee related to the Makkah Defense Agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan will hold talks in Riyadh on Monday. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that the meeting will be attended by high-ranking Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and General Selcuk Birlikdaroglu, the Chief of the General Staff. The talks are expected to focus on recent developments in the region and the progress of efforts to institutionalize the alliance.
The Makkah Defense Agreement was signed in August 2025, weeks before the Houthi group in Yemen launched attacks on Saudi Arabia. The agreement stipulates that an attack on any of the three countries is considered an attack on all of them, similar to Article 5 of the NATO charter. The agreement aims to enhance defense cooperation and coordination between the three countries.
The upcoming meeting in Riyadh comes after Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi announced on Sunday the launch of a wide-scale military operation against the Houthi group to regain control of territories under their control. The operation is seen as a significant development in the region, and the talks between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are expected to address the implications of this development.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister had previously stated that Iran proposed engaging politically with the Houthis after the group's attacks, an idea that will be discussed during the Riyadh meeting. The committee will also review the progress of efforts to institutionalize the alliance and discuss ways to enhance defense cooperation between the three countries.
The Makkah Defense Agreement has been seen as a significant development in regional defense cooperation, and its expansion to include other countries has been discussed. Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus stated in September that the agreement could evolve into a broader agreement for the Islamic world, including Iran.
The talks in Riyadh are expected to focus on practical aspects of defense cooperation, including the implementation of the Makkah Defense Agreement. The agreement has been seen as a response to regional security challenges, including the Houthi group's attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Libya is not directly involved in the upcoming talks, but the country's security situation has been impacted by regional developments. The talks between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are expected to have implications for regional security and stability.
Key points
- The Makkah Defense Agreement aims to enhance defense cooperation between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
- The upcoming talks in Riyadh will discuss recent developments in the region and the progress of efforts to institutionalize the alliance.
- The agreement has been seen as a significant development in regional defense cooperation, with potential implications for regional security and stability.
