Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, and Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu are in Riyadh for a significant meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca Joint Defense Alliance. This alliance, formed in August 2026 by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, aims to bolster joint defense capabilities, enhance regional security, and foster cooperation.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Fidan is expected to reiterate Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia and address regional security threats, including attacks on Saudi territories and concerns about the safety of sacred sites and civilian infrastructure.
Key discussions will focus on the institutional development of the alliance, with plans underway to establish a permanent secretariat in Riyadh and a military headquarters. Personnel assignments are anticipated once the necessary preparations are completed. The officials will also deliberate on the alliance’s future structure, regional security challenges, freedom of navigation on international trade routes, and conflict resolution through peaceful means.
The Mecca agreement seeks to establish a regional defense framework based on cooperation among countries in the region, rather than forming a bloc against external powers. Türkiye has suggested that the alliance could potentially expand to include more regional members in the future.