Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan met in New York on Friday to discuss the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement and steps toward putting its mechanisms into operation. The talks came amid Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reviewed progress on establishing the agreement’s secretariat, committees and working groups, as well as preparations for them to begin work.
Military chiefs’ meeting under discussion
The ministers also discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting of the three countries’ chiefs of staff. That meeting would consider ways to support Saudi Arabia under the pact, which treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all.
Ministers condemn attacks targeting Saudi Arabia
In a joint statement, the ministers condemned attacks directed at Mecca and at civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia. They praised the Saudi armed forces’ role in defending the country and affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to take measures it considers necessary for its security under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The talks focused on preparations and coordination under the agreement; no completed activation or specific military response was announced.
