ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye held an urgent meeting of their senior military leaders in Riyadh on Friday. It was the first meeting of its kind since the three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) last month.
Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, attended with Türkiye’s Chief of General Staff, Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff, Gen Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, according to Pakistan’s military media wing.
The commanders discussed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia. They condemned attacks on Makkah and on civilian and economic sites. They also praised the Saudi armed forces for protecting the public and the kingdom.
The leaders discussed closer military cooperation, including sharing intelligence, coordinating activities and linking their military capabilities. They said the countries would work together to strengthen deterrence and collective defence.
They also highlighted the long-standing ties and trust between the three countries. They said the meeting showed their commitment to turning the agreement into practical military cooperation.
Under the pact, an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three. The commanders said they were committed to defending Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and borders.
The meeting followed talks in New York, where the three countries’ foreign ministers agreed to bring their military leaders together. The talks took place amid increased attacks by the Houthis on Saudi territory and key infrastructure.
Türkiye has said it is ready to help meet Saudi Arabia’s military needs. Pakistan has also repeated its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s defence. However, officials did not say whether the commanders agreed on specific military support, troop deployments or other plans.
At the New York meeting, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reviewed progress on setting up the agreement. They condemned attacks on Makkah and Saudi civilian and economic sites.
The ministers also said Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This article recognises a country’s right to defend itself, alone or with others, if it is attacked.
The agreement was signed in Makkah on August 7 by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Since then, the three countries have taken steps to build the partnership. At a meeting in Istanbul on August 31, they agreed to set up a permanent office in Riyadh. They also discussed working together on military planning, defence industries, joint production, research and counterterrorism.
Pakistan later appointed retired Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary general of the alliance.
The three countries say the agreement is defensive and is not aimed at any particular country. Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said it is based on respect for countries’ independence, borders and right to make their own decisions. He added that other countries sharing these principles could join.
The Riyadh meeting is the first major test of how the agreement’s defence commitment will work when one of its members faces repeated attacks. At the same time, Pakistan and Türkiye have supported Saudi Arabia’s security while calling for efforts to reduce tensions and resolve regional conflicts through diplomacy.
Reported By: Special Reporter I Islamabad
