Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia Defence Meeting

Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are set to hold their first meeting under the trilateral defence agreement in Istanbul on Monday, with foreign and defence ministers as well as senior military leadership from the three countries expected to participate. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia and is expected to focus on regional security and closer defence coordination.

Pakistan will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The participation of the countries' senior political and military leadership underlines the importance being attached to the new security framework.

The three countries signed the joint defence agreement in Makkah on August 7. A key provision of the agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack against all three. The arrangement has emerged as an important development in defence cooperation between Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh.

Regional security likely to dominate discussions

The detailed agenda for the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee has not been publicly disclosed. However, regional security developments, defence cooperation and coordination on emerging threats are expected to figure prominently in discussions.

The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of continuing tensions in West Asia, including developments involving Iran. The three countries could also discuss ways to improve coordination and strengthen their collective response to potential security challenges.

Pakistan's Foreign Office has said Islamabad's participation reflects its commitment to maintaining strong relations with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia as well as supporting efforts aimed at lasting peace and stability in the region.

Three countries bring different strategic strengths

The defence arrangement brings together countries with different military and strategic capabilities.

Pakistan has a large military and is the only nuclear-armed country among the three. Türkiye, a NATO member, has developed significant defence-manufacturing capabilities, particularly in unmanned aerial systems and other military technologies. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has substantial financial resources and has invested heavily in strengthening its defence capabilities.

The agreement therefore provides a framework for greater coordination between the three countries, although the precise mechanisms for implementing their collective security commitments remain important areas to watch.

Bangladesh shows interest in joining

The possibility of expanding the framework has also attracted attention in Bangladesh. Dhaka has indicated that it could consider joining the arrangement if a formal proposal is made.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said participation would not necessarily affect the country's relations with other nations and that Dhaka would continue to pursue a balanced foreign policy. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has also indicated that Bangladesh would consider the proposal positively if it receives an invitation.

However, Bangladesh has not yet received a formal invitation to join the defence arrangement.

Separate four-nation meeting also planned

Alongside the trilateral meeting, a separate meeting involving the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt has also been proposed.

The four-country grouping was established in March to increase coordination on regional security and stability. Its previous meeting was held in Amman, Jordan, on August 5, where participants stressed dialogue and cooperation to support regional peace and stability.

India monitoring security developments

India has also been closely watching developments surrounding the new defence arrangement. Asked about the agreement during a weekly briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was monitoring all developments that could have implications for the country's security and would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

The trilateral meeting is therefore being held at a sensitive time for the wider region. Pakistan faces its own security challenges along its western border, Saudi Arabia remains concerned about threats emanating from the region, while Türkiye continues to deal with security issues involving Kurdish militant groups and strained relations with Israel.

For Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh, the Istanbul meeting will provide the first opportunity to translate the political commitment announced in Makkah into a more structured framework for defence and security coordination.