Pakistan says no plan to expand Makkah defence alliance

Pakistan's Foreign Office stated on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance, comprising Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, is defensive in nature and that its expansion is currently not under consideration. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made these remarks during a weekly press briefing.

Khan described the pact as a "defensive alliance to ensure regional security primarily through deterrence." He said that expansion of the pact is currently "not on the cards," adding that "Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia must first further consolidate their organisation and cooperation." According to the spokesperson, once consolidation is achieved, the agreement will be "open to all countries that share similar stances and perspectives."

The spokesperson noted that the three member states are holding consultations at various levels under the framework, as reported by Dawn. He reiterated that a decision on the agreement's expansion will be made at a later stage. "At this stage, there are no discussions regarding the expansion of the Makkah agreement," he said.

The Makkah Defence Alliance, also referred to as the Mecca alliance, was established among the three nations. The Foreign Office's comments clarify that the alliance remains focused on its current members and that any future expansion would require further internal consolidation and consensus. The briefing did not provide a timeline for when such consolidation might be completed or when expansion discussions might begin.

According to Mehr News, the Foreign Office spokesperson emphasized the defensive nature of the alliance and the need for the three countries to strengthen their cooperation before considering new members.