The military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye on Friday pledged to “immediately translate” the commitments of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement into effective military cooperation.
In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) after a meeting of the Army chief in Riyadh, it said they had reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia. The chiefs “strongly condemned” attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure, while praising the “vigilance and professionalism” of the Saudi Armed Forces in protecting the kingdom and its people.
They discussed ways to strengthen military cooperation, including intelligence sharing, military coordination and integration of defense capabilities, to bolster deterrence and collective defense. The participants also highlighted the “longstanding relations and mutual trust” between the three countries, saying the Riyadh meeting reflected the strength of their defense partnership.
They reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense and the three countries’ resolve to defend the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia.
Inked on Aug. 7, the tripartite agreement states an armed attack against any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three. The agreement also provides for closer defense cooperation among the three countries, including stronger coordination and joint military exercises.
Earlier this week, Pakistan appointed Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood (ret.) as the alliance’s first secretary general, posted to the General Secretariat in Riyadh.