Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently announced that an urgent meeting of the strategic political defense committee, involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, is scheduled for next week. The primary objective of these high-level discussions will be to address the ongoing Houthi militant attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. The trilateral pact, formally known as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, was established just weeks before these regional security challenges escalated.

Regarding the future of the alliance, Minister Dar noted that while there is significant international interest—with over six nations seeking to join the partnership—expansion remains on hold. He clarified that the alliance will not consider new members until the agreement is fully operational, a phase expected to span the next twelve months. This cautious approach ensures the founding members remain focused on stabilizing the agreement and addressing current security threats before integrating additional partners.