Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are holding their first committee meeting of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul on August 31 and September 1, 2026, just weeks after the pact was signed on August 7 at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca. The trilateral military alliance, sometimes described as an Islam-centric NATO, includes a core clause stating that any armed attack against one signatory state will be regarded as an attack against all three. Six or seven Muslim-majority countries have expressed interest in joining, with Egypt specifically mentioned as a potential addition. The agreement comes amid escalating regional tensions linked to the 2026 Iran-related conflict, allowing each party to diversify security partnerships: Saudi Arabia contributes financial and energy resources, Turkey brings advanced defense technology, and Pakistan offers its sizeable armed forces and operational expertise.
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