Türkiye says Makkah defense pact could form basis of new regional security architecture
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Türkiye-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia alliance is designed to expand, with work underway on rules for admitting new members
ISTANBUL (AA) — A new defense agreement between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could lay the foundation for a broader regional security and cooperation framework, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday.
Speaking in Istanbul after the first meeting held under the trilateral agreement, Fidan said the countries had begun exploring what he described as a new model for regional security and cooperation.
He said states in the region increasingly need to work together to promote security, political stability, economic prosperity and lasting peace.
The meeting at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace brought together senior diplomatic and military officials from all three countries.
Fidan attended alongside Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.
Pakistan was represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Saudi Arabia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Fidan said the alliance, referred to as the Makkah Defense agreement, was created with the intention of eventually bringing additional countries into the framework.
However, he said prospective members would first have to hold discussions with the existing participants over accession requirements, procedures and institutional standards.
The three countries are now developing a roadmap for that process.
Fidan said the immediate priority is to establish strong foundations and ensure the alliance develops into an effective and properly institutionalized structure before further expansion takes place.
Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share the view that the arrangement should be capable of responding to regional challenges while contributing to peace, stability and economic development, he added.
A more stable regional environment, Fidan said, could also encourage greater investment and development.
Turning to tensions with Israel, Fidan sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after being asked about Israeli claims that Türkiye represents a “strategic threat.”
He said Netanyahu and his supporters have increasingly targeted Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials in their public rhetoric as Israel approaches an election period.
Fidan accused Netanyahu of posing a wider danger to international security and described him as a “criminal” and a “perpetrator of genocide.”
He argued that Netanyahu’s policies should not be viewed simply as a problem for Türkiye, saying they threaten the broader Middle East and the international community.
Fidan also accused the Israeli leader of seeking to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and of supporting the continuation of Israeli occupation across the region.
He called for a coordinated international response, saying Netanyahu’s approach was damaging not only regional stability but also Israel, Jewish communities and the wider international system.
“The international system must fight against this threat, this Netanyahu threat,” Fidan said.
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