The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye met on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss pressing regional security concerns. The high-level meeting took place under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, following recent Houthi missile attacks targeting crucial locations across Saudi Arabia.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reviewed steady progress on establishing institutional structures under the MJDA pact. They focused on setting up the General Secretariat, specialized committees, and working groups needed to make the mutual defense framework fully operational. Under the Makkah defence framework, an aggression directed at any member state is treated as an attack against all member nations.
The diplomats strongly condemned the civilian site attacks and strikes on key energy infrastructure, affirming Saudi Arabia’s fundamental right to self-defense. To coordinate a joint military response and operational support, the ministers arranged an emergency meeting of the military chiefs of staff from all three allied nations.
These security talks occur amidst escalating Middle East tensions that have disrupted major energy shipping channels along the Red Sea. Saudi air defense systems recently intercepted multiple ballistic missile strikes launched toward major urban centers, including Makkah, Jeddah, and Yanbu.
Alongside diplomatic discussions, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan issued a statement urging deployed security forces and international allies to remain firm. He stressed the vital importance of troop unity and perseverance while defending the region against external security threats. Islamabad, Riyadh, and Ankara reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sustainable peace, diplomatic de-escalation, and long-term security across the region through active trilateral security cooperation.
