Ankara, Aug. 13 (SANA) Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that a joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is aimed at strengthening regional security and stability and does not designate any country as an enemy or adversary.
Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk said the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement would establish a more sustainable institutional framework for defense and security cooperation among Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad.
“The main objective of the agreement is to contribute to regional security and stability, develop military cooperation among the countries and strengthen their joint operational capabilities to address potential crises,” Aktürk told a press conference.
He stressed that the agreement was defensive in nature and did not identify any country as a common enemy or adversary.
The pact provides for strategic political and military coordination involving the three countries’ defense and foreign ministers, military chiefs and armed forces commanders, Aktürk said.
Military cooperation is expected to include command-post exercises and field training, followed by joint drills involving land, naval and air forces, air defense and unmanned systems.
Aktürk said defense industry cooperation would also be a key part of the agreement, covering joint development and production, technology, maintenance and logistical support. Unmanned and autonomous systems, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities would be among the priority areas.
He said the agreement was “neither an alternative nor a competitor to NATO,” but would complement the international security architecture. Other countries could eventually participate if the three parties reached a consensus, he added.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 to strengthen their security cooperation and promote regional stability.
Türkiye calls for end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon
Turning to the Middle East, Aktürk said lasting regional peace and stability could only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation and its continued attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.
He renewed Türkiye’s call for the international community to take a stronger stance against Israeli aggression and press Israel to comply with international law and humanitarian principles.
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