The Foreign Minister of Pakistan announces the meeting of the defense and foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in Riyadh next week
Quick Look
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the foreign and defense ministers and army commanders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will hold a meeting in Riyadh next week to review field developments, within the framework of a NATO-like joint defense agreement signed by the three countries last month, amid threats from the Iran-backed Houthis to Saudi Arabia.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Last month, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a NATO-style joint defense agreement, stipulating that any attack on any of them is considered an attack on all of them, amid the escalation of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia from Yemen.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a press conference held in Islamabad on Friday that prominent government ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will hold a meeting in Riyadh next week, within the framework of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between the three countries.
وأضاف إسحاق دار أن وزراء الخارجية والدفاع وقادة الجيوش من الدول الثلاث سيجتمعون الأسبوع المقبل "لاستعراض أحدث التطورات والواقع الميداني، لا سيما ما يتعلق بالمملكة العربية السعودية"، مؤكدا: "نحن ملتزمون بالدفاع عن السعودية".
Last month, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a joint defense agreement similar to NATO, which stipulates that any attack targeting any of them “is considered an attack against all of them.”
This agreement comes at a time when Riyadh faces threats on multiple fronts, including threats from the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen. The group’s recent strikes on Saudi Arabia, including those targeting the capital, Riyadh, have put the strategic agreement to the test.
Ishaq Dar said that the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia had “agreed in principle” to hold this next meeting, following an initial meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, on September 24.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The meeting in Riyadh will issue a joint statement announcing practical steps to enhance military cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, such as joint exercises or establishing a central operations room.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What is the exact schedule for the meeting in Riyadh?
- What specific decisions will ministers take on strengthening common defence?
- Will the agreement include practical steps such as joint military exercises or the deployment of forces?
- How will the three countries deal with any potential escalation from the Houthis or Iran after the meeting?
