Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye meet: What’s next for their defence pact?

On August 31, 2026, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye officially announced their new mutual defense pact, named the Mecca Defence Alliance, during a meeting in Istanbul. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that a secretariat has been established in Riyadh, with a secretary general to be appointed from Pakistan. The alliance is open for participation from other countries in the region and is based on international principles such as respecting state sovereignty.