Pakistan Rules Out Expansion of Mecca Defence Pact for Now

Pakistan on Thursday said there were currently no plans to expand the Mecca Defence Alliance, a three-member security pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, while stressing that the alliance is defensive in nature.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks during his weekly press briefing, according to Dawn.

Khan said the alliance was primarily established to strengthen regional security through deterrence, adding that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye should first consolidate their cooperation and organisational framework.

“Expansion of the pact is currently not on the cards,” Khan said, while noting that the agreement could eventually be opened to countries with similar positions and perspectives.

He said the three member states were conducting consultations at various levels under the alliance and would consider any expansion at a later stage.

“At this stage, there are no discussions regarding the expansion of the Mecca agreement,” he said.

Khan added that the pact remains in its early stages and requires extensive consultations on its structure, mechanisms and procedures.

“Significant work lies ahead to finalise the organisation’s structure, mechanisms and procedures,” he said, adding that further details would emerge in due course.

Signed on 7 August, the defence pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and provides that an attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all.

The alliance held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on 31 August, where the three countries agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia under a secretary general. The secretariat will initially be headed by a Pakistani secretary general for a three-year term.