Turkish Ministry of Defense: Joint military exercises are part of the Makkah pact

JEDDAH — Turkish Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk announced that conducting joint military exercises among Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is part of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. He also unveiled plans of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to conduct joint military exercises. “The defense pact aims to boost joint military capabilities. The agreement in question is defensive in nature and does not identify any country as a common enemy or adversary,” Aktürk said while addressing the ministry’s weekly press briefing in Ankara on Thursday. Aktürk said the Turkish Armed Forces, which successfully serve in numerous regions as part of bilateral cooperation, regional initiatives and multinational missions, continue to play a leading role in promoting regional and global peace. He said that the Makkah Agreement seeks to progressively develop military cooperation, beginning with command-post and field exercises. In subsequent phases, the cooperation will expand to joint exercises involving land, sea, air, air defense, and unmanned systems. The spokesperson emphasized that the exercises are intended to identify needs and shortcomings before potential crises, incorporate lessons learned into doctrine, training, and operational planning, and continuously enhance joint operational capabilities. Akturk said the Makkah pact aims to place the existing friendly and fraternal relations among the three countries on a more institutionalized and sustainable footing in the fields of defense and security. He said the agreement’s main objectives are to contribute to regional security and stability, enhance military cooperation among the three countries and strengthen their ability to act jointly in potential crises. Akturk said the agreement envisages establishing strategic political and military mechanisms involving defense ministers, foreign ministers, chiefs of general staff and armed forces commanders to ensure coordination among the three countries at the highest level. Aktürk highlighted that cooperation in the defense industry is a key component of the agreement, encompassing not only the supply of products and systems, but also joint development and production, technological cooperation, and the provision of continuous maintenance and logistical support. He explained that industrial cooperation will include unmanned and autonomous systems, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities, which are among the priority areas for collaboration. Aktürk emphasized that the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is neither an alternative to nor a competitor of NATO, but rather a mechanism that complements the international security architecture by contributing to regional security and stability. He clarified that the ultimate objective is to establish an effective institutional mechanism during peacetime that is prepared to address potential crises and capable of providing tangible military support when required. “We believe that this cooperation will contribute significantly to the security of our countries and to strengthening regional peace, stability, and deterrence,” the spokesperson added.