Ankara, Sept. 19 (SANA)Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is at a “good stage” and represents a strong will, noting that the alliance will be open to regional countries once institutionalization is complete, according to Anadolu Agency.

“The Mecca Alliance is really at a good stage. There’s a very strong will that has been put forward. We’re working with all our strength to put this will into action,” Fidan told Turkish broadcaster NTV.

He said the next stage involves deploying personnel and establishing the alliance’s headquarters, adding that once steps toward institutionalization are taken, talks could be held on bringing new members into the alliance. “It is an alliance open to the countries of the region,” Fidan said.

Mecca Agreement: A new security architecture

TheMecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on Aug. 7, 2026, aims to strengthen security among the three countries and contribute to regional stability. The agreement stipulates that an attack against any one of the parties will be considered an attack against all parties, and it allows the participation of all actors that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation.

The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee under the pact was held in Istanbul on Aug. 31, bringing together the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of the three countries.

The meeting addressed international security issues, developing defense capabilities, promoting interoperability among the three countries’ armed forces, deepening defense industry cooperation, and strengthening joint counterterrorism efforts.

Fidan on Bab al-Mandeb tensions

Regarding tensions inBab al-Mandeb, Fidan said there are many initiatives on the table, but the main challenge lies in the relevant parties delivering tangible results from these initiatives.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which carries 10 percent of global maritime trade and 12 percent of crude oil shipments, has seen ship traffic drop by 88 percent over the past 24 hours due to escalating conflicts in Yemen, with only four commercial vessels transiting the strait.

The Mecca Agreement has been described as launching a process for a “new security and cooperation architecture” in the region, with Fidan stating that regional countries urgently need to act together for security, stability and lasting peace.

The agreement was established with the aim of expanding, with work underway on a roadmap for the accession process. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have emphasized that the alliance is defensive and does not target any specific country.