Turkiye has released new details about the operational structure of a trilateral defence accord signed last week with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, describing it as a framework built around high-level ministerial coordination, joint military drills, and deeper defence industry integration.
According to a statement from Turkiye’s defence ministry at its weekly briefing in Ankara on Thursday, the three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. The pact stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three nations would be treated as an attack on all, mirroring the collective defence clause of NATO’s Article 5.
The ministry said the core objective was to place defence and military relations on a “more institutional and sustainable” basis. Strategic political and military mechanisms are planned involving the defence ministers, foreign ministers, and chiefs of general staff or armed forces commanders of the three states, ensuring coordination at the highest level.
In addition, the accord envisages joint exercises across land, naval, and air forces, as well as air defence and unmanned systems. The ministry also highlighted plans for expanded defence industry collaboration, aiming not only to supply products and systems but also to pursue joint development and production, technology transfer, and sustainable maintenance and logistics support. Priority areas include unmanned and autonomous systems, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Turkiye, which fields NATO’s second-largest army, has indicated that the pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan and leading oil exporter Saudi Arabia is open to expansion, with Egypt cited as a potential future participant, and is not intended to replace any existing alliances.
The ministry also noted that Turkiye is taking part in meetings in Jeddah aimed at establishing an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping. On regional developments, ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk said lasting peace and stability in the Middle East would require Israel to end its occupation and attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. He accused Israel of pursuing a policy of regional expansionism, pointing to its rejection of the 15-point Gaza Plan and continuing military activities in southern Lebanon despite a framework agreement. He called on the international community to take a firmer stance against Israel’s actions in line with international law and humanitarian values.