Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh

Senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey convened in Istanbul to name their newly signed mutual-defence treaty the Mecca Defence Alliance and to establish a secretariat in Riyadh, with a Pakistani secretary-general to be chosen. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the pact’s basis in sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference, and its openness to additional partners. The meeting, attended by top defence and foreign ministers from the three states, covered topics such as interoperability, joint drills, defence-industry collaboration and counter-terrorism coordination.

While the Strategic Political and Defence Committee will now move the political declaration toward operational reality, the exact mechanisms for invoking the defence clause are still unclear. Analysts point out the alliance lacks NATO-style command structures, and its durability will be tested after the current Iran-related conflict subsides. Several countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Qatar and Kuwait, have shown interest in joining, but any expansion will require consensus among the founding members.