By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan approved immediate implementation of their collective-defense commitments at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, including measures to make agreed military forces and capabilities available for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The joint statement says implementation will follow approved arrangements and the national legislation of each party. It gives no force numbers, units, deployment date or command structure.
What the Committee Approved
The committee reviewed earlier political and military consultations and approved the recommendations submitted to it. The three governments then agreed to begin immediate practical implementation of their collective-defense commitments and take the steps needed to make agreed forces and capabilities available for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The statement says the security of each party forms part of the collective security of all three countries. It links the measures to military readiness, integration and joint capacity to respond to threats.
The statement does not say Turkish or Pakistani forces have deployed. It does not identify which country will provide which forces or capabilities, and implementation remains subject to each party's domestic legal requirements.
Nauman Mahmood Named First Secretary-General
The committee appointed retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood as the alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term. The three countries agreed in August to establish the secretariat in Saudi Arabia.
At the August 31 committee meeting in Istanbul, the three governments agreed that the secretariat would initially be led by a Pakistani secretary-general. They also agreed to strengthen defense capabilities and the cohesion of their armed forces through defense-industry cooperation, joint technology development and production.
Fidan Says Yemen-Saudi Developments Brought Meeting Forward
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the October 5 meeting was brought forward because of recent developments involving Yemen and Saudi Arabia. He said the three countries discussed what support could be provided for Saudi Arabia's defense and how the issue could be addressed through dialogue and peaceful means.
Fidan said work to institutionalize the agreement was nearing completion. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu were also in the Turkish delegation.
The Riyadh decision follows Fidan's earlier statement that Türkiye could meet Saudi military needs in certain technical areas. On September 25, the three countries' military chiefs discussed military coordination, capability integration, deterrence and collective defense.
Joint Statement Cites Threats to Saudi Arabia
The joint statement says the emergency meeting was convened to address security developments and threats facing Saudi Arabia. Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan condemned the attempted targeting of Makkah and Madinah and attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities.
Türkiye and Pakistan also praised the readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces. The statement does not identify the actor responsible for the attacks.
The Mecca Pact was signed on August 7 by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The October 5 statement adds rapid-deployment measures and a secretary-general to the pact's collective-defense framework.
Sources: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Saudi Press Agency, Anadolu Agency, Bosphorus News review and reporting.