Turkish, Saudi, Pakistani officials to meet for first Mecca defense pact summit, source says

Jerusalem Post/Middle EastThe meeting between officials would happen on Monday, according to a source from the Turkish foreign ministry, with the allies concerned over a possible escalation of the Iran war.Follow us on GoogleTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by their ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, pose after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 7, 2026. (photo credit: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)AUGUST 30, 2026 13:29Updated: AUGUST 30, 2026 13:39Top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will gather in Istanbul on Monday for a first committee meeting under the joint defense accord that they signed this month, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7, brought together Sunni Muslim US allies concerned by the Iran war and regional conflict that has led to Iranian missile fire on Gulf oil exporters.It is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause.Foreign and defense ministers, as well as the chiefs of staff, of the three countries will attend the meeting in Istanbul, the ministry source said."International security issues will be on the agenda," the source said, with discussions expected to cover enhancing defense capabilities, greater interoperability among their armed forces and deepening cooperation in the defense industry, including joint production and development.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chat after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 7, 2026. (credit: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)Shared concerns over Iran, IsraelThe three nations share concerns about the military stances of Israel and revolutionary Shi'ite Iran, as long-time ally the US struggles to contain regional upheaval that has caused a global energy crisis.Six months after the US and Israel launched the war against Iran, negotiations are at an impasse, and US President Donald Trump's administration has stepped up efforts to punish Iran financially with what it has billed as an "economic D-Day."Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest military, has said the pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan and top oil exporter Saudi Arabia was open to expansion - with Egypt as a potential candidate - and did not seek to replace existing alliances.Follow us on Google