Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have agreed to activate deterrence measures under a mutual defense pact and deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia in response to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. This decision was announced on October 5, 2026, following an emergency meeting of the three countries’ defense and foreign ministers in Riyadh. This marks the first invocation of the alliance, known as the Mecca Alliance for Defence, since its signing on August 7, 2026.
The agreement stipulates that an attack on any of the three nations will be considered an attack on all, similar to a key provision of NATO’s founding treaty. Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, stated on social media that the committee agreed to activate collective deterrence measures in response to the attacks. He emphasized the solidarity and unity of the countries in confronting the attacks against Saudi Arabia and its holy sites.
A joint statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry indicated that the three nations would provide the necessary military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment to Saudi Arabia, adhering to approved arrangements and each country’s laws.
This announcement followed a counteroffensive launched by forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government to reclaim territory captured by the Iran-aligned Houthis. Yemeni forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, reported retaking the port city of Mocha and controlling the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed its involvement in the offensive, with 100 fighter jets providing air support.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the Aramco refinery in Rabigh, along with other critical sites, although Riyadh did not confirm these claims.
The Mecca Defence Alliance was formed in response to escalating conflicts in the region, particularly influenced by the US and Israel's actions against Iran. The alliance comprises nearly 1.4 million active troops, approximately 3,400 military aircraft, 6,000 tanks, and over 340 naval assets, according to the 2026 Global Firepower Index. While initial details of military obligations were sparse, the necessity for action became apparent after Houthi missile attacks in early September prompted Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to suggest that unprovoked aggression could activate the pact.
Until this recent decision, the alliance had not taken action, as analysts noted that Pakistan and Turkiye were hesitant to abandon their roles as mediators in the regional conflict. Abdulaziz Alghashian, a senior non-resident fellow at the Gulf International Forum, remarked that the decision to activate the Mecca defence pact would significantly impact regional security, indicating a developing security architecture in the area.