Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the “Mecca Defense Alliance” with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan brings together key strategic priorities of Türkiye’s foreign policy, stressing that the alliance is open to all countries in the region that share a common vision for peace.
Fidan made the remarks in an article titled “Regional Ownership in Our Foreign Policy: The Mecca Defense Alliance,” published in the November issue of Briefing, the monthly magazine issued by Anadolu Agency (AA).
He noted that the global governance system is going through a difficult period, with the Middle East at the heart of many global challenges.
Fidan explained that Türkiye signed the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense” with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, both of which support the principle of “regional solutions to regional problems,” with the aim of strengthening collective security.
He said the agreement seeks to promote stability across the region by strengthening deterrence capabilities. He also emphasized that all regional countries sharing a common vision for peace could join the alliance, which was established on an inclusive basis.
“The Mecca Defense Alliance stands at the intersection of our strategic foreign policy priorities, which can be summarized as strengthening regional peace and stability, supporting development and prosperity, expanding the institutional framework of our foreign relations, and contributing to the transformation of the global order,” Fidan wrote.
The foreign minister also addressed the institutional framework of foreign relations, the global governance system, and Türkiye’s vision for the future.
On Thursday, the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved a bill endorsing the ratification of the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense.
On August 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
The agreement aims to strengthen security among the three countries through deterrence and joint defense, as part of a vision shared by Ankara, Islamabad, and Riyadh to support regional security and stability.
