Mecca Pact in Effect: Türkiye, Pakistan to Deploy Forces in Saudi Arabia

Türkiye and Pakistan on Monday agreed with Saudi Arabia to activate “collective deterrence measures” following Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

The decision emerged from an emergency session of the alliance’s Strategic Political and Defense Committee in Riyadh on October 5.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the measures would respond to attacks on the kingdom and those responsible.

Military Support Inside Saudi Arabia

A statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry committed the three countries to putting their collective defense obligations into effect.

The committee agreed “to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom.”

Deployment would follow approved arrangements and each country’s national legislation.

The statement gave no troop figures, specified no units, and disclosed neither a deployment schedule nor rules of engagement.

The agreed support is directed toward strengthening military readiness and coordination inside Saudi Arabia.

The committee also condemned attempted attacks on Mecca and Madinah, alongside continuing strikes on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities.

It reaffirmed that threats to any member concerned all three countries.

Fidan Keeps Dialogue on the Agenda

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Riyadh discussions covered military assistance for Saudi Arabia alongside diplomatic efforts over Yemen.

“We also discussed what could be done to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue. Saudi Arabia has adopted a very constructive approach to resolving the issue,” he told reporters after the meeting.

The emergency talks followed meetings between the three countries’ military chiefs in late September and discussions among their foreign ministers during the UN General Assembly.

From Treaty to Implementation

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7.

Their announcement established that an armed attack against any signatory would be treated as an attack against all three.

The pact also covered intelligence cooperation, training, logistics, and defense industry ties.

The agreement expanded on the Saudi–Pakistan defense accord signed in September 2025. Its full treaty text has not been released publicly.

At the Riyadh meeting, the committee appointed retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the alliance’s first secretary-general for a three-year term.