Pakistan will lead the new secretariat for three years as Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh deepen defence coordination, intelligence sharing and military cooperation.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to assume the first three-year leadership of a new secretariat created under a landmark defence agreement with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, placing Islamabad at the center of an emerging regional security framework.
The agreement was signed in Makkah on Aug. 7 and is designed to strengthen defence coordination among the three countries. According to Turkish and international media reports, the newly established secretariat will serve as the main mechanism for implementing decisions and coordinating cooperation between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
After Pakistan completes its initial three-year term, leadership of the secretariat is expected to rotate to Saudi Arabia and then Türkiye.
At the heart of the agreement is a collective-security principle under which an armed attack against one member would be considered an attack against all three. However, the arrangement does not provide for an automatic military response similar to NATO’s collective-defense mechanism. Instead, the nature of any response would depend on the circumstances and the request of the country affected.
A high-level council involving foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs is also expected to oversee the framework. The council is expected to meet twice a year to review cooperation and coordinate future initiatives.
The defence partnership could cover a broad range of areas, including intelligence sharing, logistics, military exercises and direct assistance when required. Defence technology is another major component, with the three countries expected to expand cooperation in unmanned systems, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence.
The framework also envisions greater collaboration in joint defence production, research and technology transfer. Joint military exercises could further improve interoperability and coordination among the three armed forces.
For Pakistan, the initial leadership role carries significant strategic importance. Islamabad already has long-standing defence relationships with both Ankara and Riyadh, and managing the secretariat could give Pakistan a greater role in shaping regional security cooperation.
Türkiye has described the agreement as defensive in nature and said it is not aimed at any particular country. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said the pact is intended to strengthen regional security rather than replace existing alliances.
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