Field Marshal Asim Munir lands in Turkiye ahead of first meeting under Makkah defence pact

Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has arrived in Turkiye on an official visit, where he is anticipated to attend the first high level conference under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.

The visit comes at a critical time for regional security as the three countries seek to bolster defence co-operation under the deal reached earlier this month.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan said the visit of Field Marshal Asim Munir is intended to further cement the defence and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye.

During his tour he is anticipated to undertake crucial discussions with the Turkish political and military leadership on issues of mutual concern, regional security and bilateral defence cooperation.

The visit coincides with the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, to be held in Istanbul on Monday, August 31.

Senior officials from Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will attend the meeting, sources at the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Trilateral Talks

Pakistan will be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and top of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu will represent Turkiye. Saudi Arabia is likely to send its foreign and defence ministries and top of general staff.

The summit is likely to focus on international security problems, enhancing military capabilities, increasing interoperability among the armed forces of the three nations and deepening collaboration in the defence sector, including joint production and development.

The meeting is the first formal committee-level engagement under the trilateral defence mechanism set up in Makkah earlier this month.

Defence Pact of Makkah

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a summit in Makkah on August 7.

“The agreement states that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three,” he said.

The deal is designed to boost collective deterrence and deepen cooperation on security and defence.

Pakistan has maintained that the pact is defensive in nature and is not geared against any particular country.

Islamabad has also maintained the pact is meant to strengthen the three nations’ capability to preserve their sovereignty and territorial integrity while fostering regional peace and stability.

Cooperation in defence

Pakistan and Turkiye already have close military relations including collaboration in defence production, training and military exercises.

Saudi Arabia also maintains historic defence relationships with Pakistan and expanding military and defence-industrial collaboration with Turkiye.

The new trilateral framework offers another forum to coordinate these connections as the three countries look to boost their combined security capabilities.

Turkiye has said the deal is open to prospective growth but has stressed it does not intend to supplant current relationships

Turkish authorities have also argued the treaty does not name Iran or any other country as a shared threat.

Thus, the Istanbul summit is scheduled to outline the next steps for the implementation of the agreement. The talks are planned to include defence coordination, military interoperability and cooperation in defence technology and manufacturing.