Online Desk 

The trilateral Mecca Defence Pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye has come into effect amid growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces and rising regional security threats.

At a strategic, political and defence committee meeting held in Riyadh on Monday, the three countries agreed to activate the pact’s joint defence mechanism.

As part of the arrangement, Pakistan and Türkiye said they were preparing to rapidly deploy troops and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said necessary steps would be taken to implement the mutual defence commitment and that the agreed military forces and capabilities would be deployed swiftly.

The statement said the deployment would be carried out in accordance with arrangements approved by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye and their respective national laws.

The move aims to strengthen military preparedness, enhance coordination and build joint capabilities to respond to potential threats.

Top Officials Attend Riyadh Meeting

The foreign and defence ministers, along with senior military officials from all three countries, attended Monday’s meeting.

Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

Pakistan’s delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

Saudi Arabia was represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.

Retired Pakistani General Named First Secretary-General

The meeting appointed retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Noman Mahmood as the first secretary-general of the Mecca defence alliance for a three-year term.

The three members said the security of one country would be regarded as being linked to the security of the other two. They said implementation of the joint defence mechanism would further strengthen the alliance’s deterrence capabilities.

Pact Activated Amid Houthi Attacks

The Houthis have repeatedly claimed attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and other facilities. The decision to activate the Mecca Defence Pact comes amid these attacks and growing regional security concerns.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the “Mecca Joint Defence Pact” on August 7. Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all three.

Later in August, the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of the three countries held a meeting in Istanbul.

Following another meeting of the military chiefs in Riyadh on September 25, the three countries have now decided to activate the joint defence mechanism.