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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye move to activate the Makkah Defence Pact amid rising Houthi attacks. (Img: X)
Al-Safa Palace: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have activated their Makkah Alliance for Defence amid escalating Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, agreeing to immediately implement collective defence commitments and prepare for the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in the kingdom.
The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance in Riyadh. The move puts the trilateral defence agreement into practical operation at a time when fighting in Yemen has intensified and attacks on Saudi territory have increased.
The three countries reaffirmed a central principle of the defence agreement that the security of each member is an integral part of the collective security of all three. The parties affirmed that the security of each Party is an integral part of the collective security of the three countries, the joint statement said.
The committee agreed to move immediately towards implementing the alliance's collective defence commitments. Pakistan and Türkiye are expected to provide the military forces and capabilities agreed under the pact and ensure their swift deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The deployment will take place under approved arrangements and in accordance with the national laws of the three countries, the statement said. The move is intended to strengthen military readiness, integration and the alliance's ability to respond to emerging threats.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the strategic political and defence committee of the alliance had ‘agreed to activate collective deterrence measures’ in response to recent attacks by yemen’s iran aligned houthi group.
As per a tweet by the Minister, "The committee agreed to activate collective deterrence measures within the framework of the Alliance in response to the attacks and all those responsible for them."
The committee expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned what it described as attacks against the kingdom and its holy sites. Particular concern was raised over attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, as well as continuing attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure.
The alliance said such attacks represented a threat to Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity and reaffirmed its opposition to any attempt to undermine the kingdom's sovereignty.
The defence pact was activated as fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis has sharply intensified.
The Houthis have carried out missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory, while Saudi-backed forces have launched a major offensive in Yemen. The escalation has increased concerns over the security of Saudi cities, airports, energy infrastructure and strategic routes in the region.
The latest developments have therefore given the Makkah Alliance its first major operational test since Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the joint defence agreement in August.
The emergency meeting also marked a step in building the alliance's institutional structure. Retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood was appointed as the Makkah Alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term.
The committee also reviewed military, operational and technical arrangements aimed at improving coordination between the three countries.
Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the countries discussed both the military support that could be provided to Saudi Arabia and possible diplomatic avenues for resolving the crisis through dialogue.
The activation of the pact now gives the three countries a formal framework for responding collectively to threats against any member, with the immediate focus on strengthening Saudi Arabia's defence capabilities amid the latest Houthi escalation.
