Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have agreed to establish a joint secretariat in Saudi Arabia as part of their Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, the three countries announced on Monday following their inaugural ministerial meeting. The secretariat is set to be initially led by a Pakistani secretary-general for a three-year term.

The announcement was made after high-level discussions in Istanbul, where officials from the three nations—including their foreign and defense ministers as well as military chiefs of staff—convened at a historic Ottoman palace. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underlined that the defense pact is not directed against any specific country and emphasized the alliance’s openness to additional members, citing Egypt as a potential future participant.

Fidan described the agreement as being grounded on key international principles, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and non-interference in their internal affairs. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also took part in the meeting.

The pact aims to foster closer military and strategic cooperation among the three signatories amid shifting regional dynamics. The establishment of the secretariat is intended to facilitate coordination and implementation of joint defense efforts under the Makkah Agreement framework.

No further details were provided on the secretariat’s immediate operational plans or the timeline for expanding the alliance’s membership. However, the inclusion of Egypt as a possible new member signals an intent to broaden the coalition’s regional footprint.