Makkah Defence Pact: Asim Munir arrives in Turkiye for trilateral security meeting

Pakistan’s army chief and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has arrived in Turkiye for an official visit, ahead of the first high-level meeting under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.

According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit aims to strengthen defence and strategic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye.

He is expected to meet senior Turkish political and military leaders to discuss bilateral defence ties, regional security and matters of mutual interest.

The visit coincides with the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the trilateral agreement. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Monday, August 31.

Senior officials from Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia are expected to attend the meeting.

Trilateral meeting

Pakistan is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Turkiye is expected to send Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

Saudi Arabia is expected to be represented by its foreign and defence ministers and chief of general staff.

The committee is expected to discuss international security developments, ways to strengthen defence capabilities and improve interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries.

Defence industry cooperation, including joint production and development, is also expected to feature on the agenda.

The Istanbul gathering will mark the first formal committee-level engagement since the three countries established the new defence framework in Makkah earlier this month.

Makkah defence pact

Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 during a summit in Makkah attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against one of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all three.

The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and expand cooperation in security and defence.

Pakistan has described the agreement as defensive and said it is not directed against any particular country.

Islamabad has also said the arrangement will strengthen the three countries’ ability to protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity while contributing to regional peace and stability.

Expanding defence cooperation

Pakistan and Turkiye already maintain close military ties, including cooperation in defence production, training and military exercises.

Saudi Arabia also has longstanding defence relations with Pakistan and has expanded military and defence-industrial cooperation with Turkiye.

The new trilateral framework provides an additional platform for coordinating these relationships as the three countries seek to strengthen their collective security capabilities.

Turkiye has indicated that the agreement could potentially expand while stressing that it is not intended to replace existing alliances.

Turkish officials have also said the pact does not designate Iran or any other country as a common threat.

The Istanbul meeting is expected to establish the next steps for implementing the agreement, with defence coordination, military interoperability, technology and joint production likely to remain key areas of discussion.