Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan hold first defence committee meeting in Istanbul on August 31

Exam-focused facts from the 31 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is being held in Istanbul on August 31, 2026.
The meeting is attended by top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, including foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs.
Discussions will cover enhancing defence capabilities, interoperability among armed forces, defence industry cooperation including joint production, and counter-terrorism efforts.
The committee will establish an administrative secretariat and a roadmap for future steps.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, 2026, includes a NATO-like clause that an attack on one party is considered an attack on all.