Istanbul to host first committee meeting of Turkey-Saudi-Pak defence alliance
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are holding their first committee meeting in Istanbul to operationalize a new joint defense accord. The agreement focuses on collective deterrence and defense industry cooperation amid regional tensions involving Iran and Israel.
Why it matters
This alliance represents a significant realignment of Sunni-majority powers in the Middle East and South Asia, potentially altering regional security dynamics.
Top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will gather in Istanbul on Monday for the first committee meeting under the joint defence accord the three countries signed earlier this month, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters.Foreign and defence ministers, along with the chiefs of staff of the three countries, are expected to attend the meeting.The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, brought together the three Sunni Muslim-majority US allies amid the Iran war and wider regional conflict, which has included Iranian missile fire targeting Gulf oil exporters.International security, defence cooperation on agenda"International security issues will be on the agenda," the Turkish foreign ministry source said.The discussions are expected to cover efforts to enhance defence capabilities, improve interoperability among the three countries' armed forces and deepen cooperation in the defence industry, including joint production and development, the source said.The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against…
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