Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan condemn attacks on Mecca, discuss joint military support

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan strongly condemned attacks targeting the holy city of Mecca and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement released Friday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York under the framework of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between the three countries, which was formed last month.

During the meeting, the foreign ministers reviewed progress toward establishing the agreement’s general secretariat, committees, and working groups, as well as preparations for them to begin their work, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement.

They condemned the attacks in the strongest terms and commended the vigilance of the Saudi Armed Forces and their ability to defend the kingdom’s security.

They also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to take measures it deems appropriate to defend its security in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The foreign ministers discussed plans to convene an urgent meeting of the three countries’ military chiefs to explore ways to assist Saudi Arabia under the agreement, which stipulates that an attack against any one of its parties shall be considered an attack against all.

They also discussed the current situation in the region, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law, good neighborliness, mutual respect for state sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs, as well as ensuring the security and freedom of navigation.

The foreign ministers reiterated their determination to work together to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the region, support de-escalation efforts, and encourage the peaceful resolution of crises.