ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the newly formed Mecca Defense Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as an important framework for promoting peace, security and stability across the region, saying key decisions have already been taken to put the alliance into operation.
Speaking to journalists aboard his aircraft after returning from Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan said the recent meeting of the alliance’s Strategic, Political and Military Committee in Istanbul marked a significant step toward translating the agreement into practical cooperation.
The meeting brought together the foreign and defense ministers as well as military chiefs from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. According to Erdogan, the participants agreed on several measures concerning political and military coordination, including the establishment and activation of a permanent secretariat for the alliance.
He said cooperation would extend beyond the defense sector to include military training, the alignment of military standards, assessment of emerging security threats and the exchange of resources, expertise and military capabilities. Cooperation in the defense industry would also form an important component of the alliance.
Erdogan acknowledged that while only a limited number of countries have publicly expressed opposition to the Mecca Alliance, some states have privately raised concerns about the initiative. He argued that the close strategic relationship between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has made it difficult for opponents to openly challenge the alliance.
The Turkish president emphasized that the alliance was established primarily to contribute to regional peace, security and stability rather than target any particular country. He said Türkiye would continue working with its “brotherly” partners to deepen cooperation and strengthen the alliance.
Türkiye Seeks Stronger Engagement with SCO
Turning to Türkiye’s relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Erdogan said Ankara intends to expand its political and economic engagement with the organization’s member states.
He noted that Pakistan’s role as the SCO’s current chair would provide further opportunities to strengthen Türkiye’s interaction with the organization and enhance Ankara’s position within its broader regional framework.
Erdogan pointed out that Türkiye already maintains substantial trade and economic links with several SCO members. He said the vast geographical area encompassing China, Central Asia, Russia and South Asia offers significant opportunities for Türkiye in trade, investment and economic cooperation.
The Turkish president also rejected the notion that closer relations with the SCO represented a strategic shift away from the West. He said Ankara’s expanding engagement with the organization was consistent with its balanced and multilateral foreign policy.
According to Erdogan, Türkiye is pursuing a “360-degree” foreign policy aimed at increasing its international political, economic and strategic influence while maintaining constructive relations with partners across different regions.
