Ankara:Trkiye and its Mecca Alliance partners convened to discuss support for Saudi Arabia's defense and diplomatic strategies to address tensions with Yemen through peaceful dialogue, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan spoke after an extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca Alliance, comprised of Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. The meeting was prompted by recent developments concerning Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Fidan stated that the discussions focused on the type of support that could be extended to Saudi Arabia's defense and the measures needed to resolve the issue through peaceful means. He noted that Saudi Arabia had adopted a constructive approach and shared its position during the meeting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's commitment to the issue was emphasized, leading to several decisions.

The session also coincided with a pre-planned meeting to further institutionalize the alliance agreement established in August. Fidan highlighted that the alliance's institutional structure is nearing completion, with discussions covering the secretariat's framework and the appointment of a new secretary-general.

A Pakistani candidate, Nauman Mahmood, a retired lieutenant general, was approved for the secretary-general position to serve a three-year term. The meeting also addressed technical and future framework issues of the alliance.

The discussions included participation from Trkiye's national defense minister and senior military officials, who contributed to military, operational, and technical discussions. Fidan described the meeting as productive, focusing on strengthening the alliance's structure and addressing the situation involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The Mecca Defense Alliance was formed on August 7, with subsequent steps taken by its member states to formalize the agreement.