Military chiefs from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have pledged to “immediately translate” commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) into effective military cooperation.
The commitment was made during a meeting of the chiefs of defence forces and chiefs of general staff of the three countries in Riyadh on Friday, where they reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military chiefs strongly condemned attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure, while praising the “vigilance and professionalism” of the Saudi armed forces in protecting the kingdom and its people.
The participants discussed measures to strengthen cooperation among their armed forces, including enhanced intelligence sharing, military coordination and integration of defence capabilities to bolster deterrence and collective defence.
They also highlighted the longstanding relations and mutual trust among the three countries, saying the Riyadh meeting reflected the strength of their defence partnership and their shared resolve to implement the commitments under the trilateral agreement.
The military chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence and their countries’ resolve to protect Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The MJDA was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Aug 7, 2026, during the Makkah Summit for Joint Defence.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all three. The pact provides for closer defence cooperation, including greater coordination and joint military exercises.
The three countries also agreed to establish political and military mechanisms involving their foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan earlier said the alliance’s secretariat would be established in Riyadh and that its first secretary general would be from Pakistan.
Pakistan subsequently appointed retired Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood as the alliance’s first secretary general, with the General Secretariat to be based in Riyadh.
The possibility of expanding the alliance has also been raised. Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said on Friday that the MJDA could eventually develop into a broader security arrangement for the Muslim world, adding that Iran could also join the pact.
He said Turkiye did not view the agreement as being directed against Iran.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also backed Iran’s inclusion in a broader regional security framework, saying Tehran’s participation could contribute to regional stability.
