Pakistan, Saudi, Turkiye activate Mecca defence pact as Yemen war escalates

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have activated the Mecca Defence Pact, agreeing to rapidly deploy military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia in response to escalating threats from Yemen’s Houthi group. The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh on October 5, 2026. The joint statement released by Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed that the committee had resolved to move immediately toward the practical implementation of collective defence commitments, ensuring the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities in the kingdom. The deployment will proceed under approved arrangements and in accordance with the national laws of the three countries. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August 2026, stipulates that an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all. However, the initial agreement did not specify the exact military commitments or defensive obligations of each nation. Now, the alliance has taken steps to operationalize these commitments, aiming to enhance military readiness, improve integration among the three countries, and bolster their collective ability to respond to threats. Senior military and defence officials from all three nations attended the high-level meeting in Riyadh. From Turkey, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu participated. Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Saudi Arabia was represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili. Retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood of Pakistan was appointed as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Alliance for Defence for a three-year term. The three countries condemned what they described as attempts to target Mecca and Medina, along with ongoing attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities. They reaffirmed their rejection of any attack or threat against Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman stated that the alliance had agreed to activate collective deterrence measures in response to recent attacks by the Houthi group. He emphasized the alliance’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia over the “heinous attacks” targeting the kingdom and its holy sites. The activation of the Mecca Pact coincides with a major offensive launched by Saudi-backed forces in Yemen. According to reports, forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government have recaptured several key towns, including Dhubab, Bab, and Hadeid, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The offensive received air support from the Saudi-led coalition, which claimed to have secured air protection of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and destroyed numerous Houthi targets. The operation, named “Yemen Dawn,” aims to recover territories held by the Houthi group for over a decade and restore state institutions in Sanaa. The Houthi group has intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on critical infrastructure such as a power distribution station in Medina, which supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque. These attacks have raised regional tensions further, prompting the three nations to reinforce their collective security posture. While the specific roles of the deployed troops remain unspecified, the symbolic significance of the pact lies in demonstrating unity and resolve against the Houthi threat. The deployment of Pakistani and Turkish forces to Saudi Arabia carries deep symbolic weight, particularly given the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Pakistan already has a significant military presence in the region, having recently sent weapons to Aden to support the Saudi-backed government. It remains unclear how this new deployment will directly influence the current military dynamics in Yemen, but the move underscores the growing alignment between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey in countering the Houthi challenge.