Turkish foreign and defence ministers to join Pakistani and Saudi officials for talks on regional developments and institutionalisation of trilateral alliance
ISTANBUL: The Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is scheduled to meet in Riyadh on October 5 to discuss the evolving regional security situation and progress towards institutionalising the trilateral alliance, Türkiye’s foreign ministry said.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly following the announcement of a major military campaign by Yemen’s Saudi-backed government against the Iran-backed Houthis. The operation is aimed at retaking territories currently controlled by the group.
Houthi Crisis Expected to Feature in Talks
The Riyadh discussions are also expected to consider possible political engagement with the Houthis.
Pakistan’s foreign minister said earlier that Iran had suggested pursuing political dialogue with the Yemeni group following recent attacks attributed to the Houthis. The proposal was expected to be discussed by members of the Makkah defence framework during their meeting in the Saudi capital.
According to the Turkish foreign ministry, the talks will focus on recent regional developments as well as the progress made in establishing the alliance’s institutional mechanisms.
Senior Turkish Officials to Attend
Türkiye will be represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of the General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.
Senior officials from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will also participate in the Strategic Political and Defence Committee meeting.
The talks represent another step in developing the institutional structure of the three-country defence arrangement at a time when escalating tensions surrounding Yemen and the Houthis are creating new security challenges across the region.
The Riyadh meeting is therefore expected to combine discussion of immediate regional security developments with efforts to strengthen the political and defence coordination mechanisms of the Makkah alliance
