Saudi Cabinet Notes Progress on Defence Pact With Pakistan, Türkiye
The Cabinet session, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, reviewed steps taken during recent meetings of the foreign ministers and chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye,
Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has noted progress in establishing the General Secretariat of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and forming its committees and working groups, as Riyadh, Islamabad and Ankara move towards translating the pact’s commitments into military cooperation.
The Cabinet session, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, reviewed steps taken during recent meetings of the foreign ministers and chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The Cabinet noted that the meetings were aimed at advancing coordination and integration among the three countries and beginning to translate commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into military cooperation designed to strengthen deterrence and collective defence.
The development comes as the three countries move forward with the institutional framework of the defence arrangement, including the establishment of its General Secretariat, committees and working groups.
Saudi Arabia Reviews Regional, Global Developments
At the beginning of the session, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman briefed the Cabinet on his recent telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
He also briefed ministers on his meeting with UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The discussions covered bilateral relations and regional developments, as well as efforts to strengthen security and stability at the regional and international levels.
UNGA Participation, Counter-Terrorism Support
The Cabinet also reviewed the outcomes of Saudi Arabia’s participation in the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to SPA, the Cabinet highlighted the Kingdom’s role in supporting multilateral action, international peace and security, dialogue and diplomacy, as well as efforts to address humanitarian crises.
It also highlighted Saudi financial support for programmes of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center, describing it as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen international cooperation.
Saudi Arabia Stresses Freedom of Navigation
Reviewing regional political developments, the Cabinet welcomed a UN Security Council statement condemning continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and commercial vessels and threats to navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Cabinet stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
It also called for conditions in the Strait of Hormuz to be restored to those prevailing before February 28, without fees or restrictions, and rejected the use of strategic waterways to exert pressure, issue threats or harm the interests of states.
Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Saudi Cabinet strongly condemned what it described as continued assaults by Israeli officials and extremist settlers on the sanctity and religious and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It reiterated Saudi Arabia’s position that a just and lasting peace requires implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Approve Visa Exemption
Among several decisions, the Cabinet approved an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye providing mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports.
It also authorised the Saudi culture minister to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding with the Smithsonian Institution in the United States for cultural cooperation.
The Cabinet authorised talks on a health cooperation agreement with Djibouti and approved an MoU between the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority and Syria’s Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection on preventing and combating corruption.
The Cabinet also authorised the finance minister and chairman of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to approve GCC lists covering prohibited and restricted goods and goods of a special nature.
