Makkah Defense Pact Foreign Ministers Hold High-Level Talks in New York, Vowing Total Support for Saudi Security and Institutional Growth
NEW YORK : On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the foreign minister of the member countries of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement – Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye – held a high-level strategic meeting. The trilateral meeting strongly condemned the recent hostile attacks in Saudi Arabia on Makkah and critical civilian and economic infrastructure. The ministers underlined the spirit of the pact and its central principles: an attack on one member state is an attack on all. The participants strongly confirmed Saudi Arabia’s absolute sovereignty to take any action necessary for the protection of its security in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. The meeting, held at the permanent mission headquarters, discussed practical steps to build the institutional framework of the Defense Framework and the Chief of Staff Summit, such as the development of its general secretariat, specialized committees and working groups.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement stating that the foreign ministers agreed to convene an emergency meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the three nations to put mechanisms to the operational level of providing mutual defense support.The ministers highlighted key principles of international law, mutual respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in domestic affairs during the consultations.
They also emphasized the critical need for protection of regional maritime navigation and unhindered movement of commercial shipping. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in a briefing session to the national media after the session, explained that the meeting comprehensively covered the operational progress of the Makkah defense pact, institutional frameworks and the global and regional security context.