Amidst growing regional tensions, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, and Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu are visiting Riyadh to participate in the Strategic Political and Defense Committee meeting of the Mecca Joint Defense Alliance. This alliance, formed in August 2026 by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, aims to bolster joint defense capabilities and regional security.
The visit comes at a critical time, as Saudi Arabia faces heightened tensions with the Houthi movement in Yemen. During the meeting, Fidan is expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia, focusing discussions on regional security threats, including attacks on Saudi territories and the security of sacred sites and civilian infrastructure.
A key agenda item for the meeting is the institutional development of the Mecca Joint Defense Alliance. The member countries are working towards establishing a permanent secretariat in Riyadh and a military headquarters, with personnel assignments anticipated once preparations are finalized.
Officials will also deliberate on the alliance’s future framework, addressing regional security challenges, ensuring freedom of navigation on international trade routes, and promoting conflict resolution through peaceful means. The alliance emphasizes a cooperative regional defense framework, rather than forming a bloc against external powers, and Türkiye has suggested the possibility of future expansion to include more regional members.