The Foreign Office confirmed on Sunday that the first session of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, formed under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, is set to take place in Istanbul on Monday.
This announcement followed a Reuters report, sourced from a Turkish foreign ministry official, indicating that senior representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye would convene in Istanbul for the committee’s inaugural session, tied to the joint defence pact the three countries signed earlier this month.
Pakistan’s Delegation and Meeting Details
Per the Foreign Office statement, Pakistan’s delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. The statement further noted that the session would also draw the foreign and defence ministers, along with the chiefs of general staff, from both Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was formally signed on August 7 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The pact is designed to reinforce collective deterrence among the three nations, establishing that an armed attack on any one signatory would be treated as an attack on all, a framework comparable to NATO’s Article 5 collective defence principle.
A source told Reuters that international security matters would dominate the agenda, with talks expected to focus on strengthening defence capabilities, improving military interoperability, and expanding cooperation in defence manufacturing, including joint production initiatives.
Regional Context Behind the Pact
The push for closer security cooperation comes as the region continues to grapple with fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28 and has drawn in multiple Gulf states while disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has carried out repeated strikes against countries hosting US military bases and has cautioned regional states against allowing their territory to be used for operations against Tehran.
Pakistan has remained a prominent figure throughout the conflict, serving as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran. Six months into the war, negotiations remain stalled, and the Trump administration has intensified financial pressure on Iran through what it has termed an “economic D-Day.”
Turkiye, home to NATO’s second-largest military, has indicated the defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan and major oil exporter Saudi Arabia remains open to further expansion, potentially including Egypt, while stressing it is not meant to replace existing alliances.
Broader Regional Cooperation: The R4 Group
In recent months, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt formed a coalition known as the R4 to jointly address regional challenges, particularly the conflict involving Iran. Turkiye has described the grouping as an effort to build a more structured, lasting partnership among the four nations.
President Erdogan previously stated that the defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan “targets no country and is open to the participation of all brotherly countries.” In a post on X, he added that the pact, grounded in collective deterrence, would help advance security cooperation, support joint defence industry projects, and strengthen counterterrorism efforts. He also noted the agreement reaffirms the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, emphasizing it welcomes any nation committed to regional peace, prosperity and stability.
Munir and Dar Arrive in Turkiye
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, has already arrived in Turkiye ahead of the meeting, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also landed in Istanbul on Sunday for his official engagements, the Foreign Office confirmed.
Dar was welcomed by Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Brig Gen Senol Varol, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye Dr Yousaf Junaid, Turkish MFA Ambassador Cihad Erginay, and other senior Turkish government officials.