Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have moved to put their Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into practical operation, agreeing to activate collective-defense measures and prepare for the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to the Kingdom.
The decision was announced following an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defense in Riyadh on Monday, bringing together senior political and military officials from the three countries.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the meeting had reaffirmed the three countries’ unity in responding to attacks against Saudi Arabia and the holy sites.
In a post following the meeting, he said:
“The Emergency Meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee under the Makkah Alliance for Defense reaffirmed the solidarity and unity of our countries in confronting the heinous attacks against the Kingdom and the holy sites. 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 Emergency Meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee under the Makkah Alliance for Defense reaffirmed the solidarity and unity of our countries in confronting the heinous attacks against the Kingdom and the holy sites. 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.
— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) October 5, 2026
The joint statement issued after the meeting said the three countries had decided to proceed immediately with implementation of their collective-defense commitments. It said necessary steps would be taken to provide agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia, subject to the arrangements approved by the three governments and their respective national laws.
The decision comes amid heightened security tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Red Sea, with particular attention focused on the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait and continuing attacks attributed to the Houthis.
The Riyadh meeting brought together the foreign and defense ministers and senior military commanders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Türkiye’s delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.
The meeting also coincided with a major military push by forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government against Houthi positions. Yemeni authorities have described the campaign, dubbed “Dawn of Yemen,” as an effort to retake Sanaa, restore state institutions and end Houthi control.
🔊PR No.2️⃣7️⃣5️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Joint Statement: Emergency Meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence, Riyadh -5 October, 2026
🔗⬇️ https://t.co/ynFYzqILzc
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 5, 2026
Yemeni government forces have reported advances along the western coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb area, including the reported recapture of the Red Sea port city of Mokha. The claims could not be independently verified.
The Saudi-led coalition has said it is providing air support to Yemeni forces taking part in the campaign. It has reported the participation of 100 fighter jets and claimed that 324 high-value targets have been destroyed since the operation began.
Those figures have not been independently verified.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye on Monday agreed to immediately implement collective-defense commitments under the Makkah Defense Alliance, including the swift deployment of agreed forces and military capabilities to the Kingdom amid ongoing threats https://t.co/QgOcHSYEq1
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 5, 2026
The developments have also drawn renewed attention from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the United States intended to honor its bilateral security commitments to Saudi Arabia and said the Kingdom had the right to defend itself against continuing attacks.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye on August 7, establishes a framework for collective defense and closer military cooperation. The three countries have previously described the arrangement as defensive and aimed at strengthening regional security and deterrence.
The latest decision represents a significant move from the establishment of the trilateral framework toward its operational implementation, with the three governments now committing to concrete measures to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s defensive capabilities.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
