Turkey will host Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for the first ministerial meeting of their new regional defence grouping on Monday (August 31, 2026), Turkish sources said Sunday (August 30).

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed earlier this month, commits the three countries to mutual defence in the event of any of them being attacked.

The pact came against a backdrop of war between the United States and Iran and attacks in the region from Tehran-backed Houthi rebels.

The meeting in Istanbul will set up a “political and defence strategic committee” involving foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said.

The agreement unites NATO’s second-largest army, Turkey, with the Islamic world’s only nuclear-armed state, Pakistan, and the leading Gulf power in Saudi Arabia.

Monday’s (August 31) meeting will be chaired by the Turkish foreign and defence ministers as well as the chief of the general staff.

Pakistan is sending Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with the Defence Minister and the commander of the defence forces.

Saudi Arabia will be represented by its Foreign Minister, the Defence Minister and the chief of the general staff, Turkish sources said.

As well as international security, the participants plan to address boosting defence capabilities, the interoperability of their armed forces, and their cooperation in the defence industry, Ankara said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has termed the Saudi Arabia-Turkiye-Pakistan defence agreement a “big, bold and important first step” towards defending themselves in a “more meaningful way”.

Signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, the pact establishes a framework for collective deterrence and stipulated that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three.

The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Mr. Sharif on Monday (August 17, 2026) lauded Mr. Trump’s “kind words” on the tri-nation defence agreement, saying that Islamabad would continue to work in ensuring its defence and the wider region.

Mr. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social network, said, “Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkey [Turkiye], and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. It shows how the Middle East [West Asia] is coming together, and how countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way.” “Congratulations to the Great Leadership of the three Nations mentioned. THIS IS A BIG, BOLD, AND IMPORTANT FIRST STEP — WOW,” Mr. Trump wrote.

Mr. Sharif, in a post on X, said, “Deeply appreciate President Donald Trump’s kind words of support on the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.” “Together with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkiye, Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in ensuring the defence of our own countries as well as the entire region.”

Days after the agreement was signed, India said it is assessing the implications of it through the point of view of its own national security as well as regional peace and stability.

“India remains fully committed to safeguarding its national interests and will take all necessary measures in this regard,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing in New Delhi on August 11.