Türkiye, Pakistan activate collective deterrence of Mecca Pact against Houthi attacks on S Arabia

Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan moved to strengthen their joint defence framework on Monday as senior political and military officials met in Riyadh for an emergency session of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defence.Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.

The meeting comes amid renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and wider concerns over regional security.Fidan said the three countries discussed steps to support Saudi Arabia's defence while also examining ways to resolve regional issues peacefully through dialogue.The alliance was established in August by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with the three countries subsequently agreeing to build permanent institutions and strengthen collective deterrence and defence capabilities.Allies seek stronger collective defenceAccording to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, the three countries agreed that military forces and capabilities could be rapidly deployed in Saudi Arabia under the alliance's framework.The sides also condemned attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah and reaffirmed their commitment to confronting attacks against Saudi Arabia and Islamic holy sites.Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the alliance remains committed to confronting attacks and protecting the kingdom, while collective deterrence measures would be used against threats and those responsible.Pakistan's Foreign Ministry also announced that Nauman Mahmood would serve as the Mecca Alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term, reflecting the effort to establish a permanent institutional structure.Focus on dialogue alongside deterrenceThe Riyadh meeting also highlighted diplomacy as part of the alliance's approach to regional crises.At the alliance's first Strategic Political and Defense Committee meeting in Istanbul on August 31, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed to support de-escalation and restraint and encourage peaceful solutions to regional disputes.They also agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia and expand cooperation in defence industries, joint technology development and production.The latest meeting comes as Saudi Arabia faces renewed attacks by Yemen's Houthis and as discussions continue over possible political engagement to reduce tensions.The three countries are seeking to develop the Mecca Agreement into a more institutionalised security framework while combining collective defence measures with diplomatic efforts aimed at regional stability.