Turkish Vice President: (Mecca Agreement) a historic step to enhance regional security

Istanbul, Aug 7 (KUNA) – Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said on Friday that the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan represents a historic step that will contribute to strengthening the region’s security architecture. This was stated in a statement released by Yilmaz via his account on the Turkish social media platform X (formerly Twitter), following the signing of the joint defense agreement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Mecca earlier on Friday.

Yilmaz added that “the agreement does not target any country, but rather enhances the concept of common security, deterrence, and cooperation in defense industries, as well as regional stability, while advancing Turkey’s vision of a foreign policy based on peace and its multi-dimensional strategic cooperation.”

He expressed his expectation that “the agreement will contribute to strengthening the spirit of strategic cooperation and provide momentum for economic cooperation, particularly in the fields of trade, finance, and investment,” noting that regional cooperation is increasingly gaining importance amid the current “weakness of global institutions and rules.”

In a related development, Burhanuddin Duran, head of the Communication Department at the Turkish Presidency, said that the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense embodies the shared history, deep fraternal ties, and strong will for solidarity among the three countries on a strategic foundation. Duran emphasized that the agreement, which does not target any country, will enhance common security and collective deterrence among the three nations, elevate cooperation in defense industries and joint military interoperability to advanced levels, and make a significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region. (End)