In Istanbul, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's foreign and defence ministers hold their first meeting since the Mecca pact

Foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of staff from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met in Istanbul on Monday, September 7, 2026 (16 Shahrivar 1405), for the first time since signing the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement earlier this month. According to AFP, carried by Al Jazeera, the meeting formally establishes a political and defence strategic committee made up of representatives from the three countries. Citing Reuters, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said the agenda covers international security issues along with military cooperation and capabilities.

The Mecca pact is a NATO like collective defence alliance under which an attack on one member could be considered an attack on all, formed after the United States and Israel's war on Iran. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Egypt could potentially join the pact, and Bangladesh has said it is considering joining as well, a process India has said it is monitoring closely.