Mecca Pact Activated as Pakistan, Turkey to Send Forces in Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Attack: All About the Deal
The decision was taken on October 5 at an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance in Riyadh. According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three countries agreed to move immediately towards implementing their collective defence commitments.
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have moved to operationalise their newly formed Makkah Alliance for Defence, agreeing to take immediate steps for the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities to the Kingdom. The decision comes amid heightened security tensions involving Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group and follows an emergency trilateral meeting in Riyadh.
Mecca Pact Activated In Riyadh
The decision was taken on October 5 at an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance in Riyadh. According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three countries agreed to move immediately towards implementing their collective defence commitments.
The agreement provides for the provision of agreed military forces and capabilities and their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia. However, the statement did not disclose the number of troops, specific military units involved or a timetable for deployment.
The deployment will take place under previously approved arrangements and in accordance with the national laws of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
Why Is Saudi Arabia Seeking Military Support?
The activation comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis. The group has carried out attacks targeting Saudi territory, while Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have launched a major military offensive against Houthi-held areas.
The three countries condemned attempts to target Mecca and Medina, as well as attacks against Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure. They also praised Saudi armed forces for maintaining readiness and protecting the Kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.
The development therefore marks a shift from establishing the alliance on paper towards putting its collective defence mechanism into practical operation.
What Is The Mecca Defence Pact?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence on August 7, 2026. The pact establishes a framework for collective security and states that the security of each member is an integral part of the security of the three countries.
The agreement was followed by consultations among foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs as the three countries worked to establish the alliance’s institutional structure. Military chiefs also met in Riyadh on September 25 before the emergency October meeting.
Pakistan General Named First Secretary-General
The Riyadh meeting also appointed Pakistan’s retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Alliance for Defence for a three-year term.
Pakistan was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Turkey and Saudi Arabia were represented by their senior foreign, defence and military officials.
The latest move is expected to deepen military coordination among the three countries as regional security tensions continue to intensify.
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