RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (HornPost) — Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have agreed to immediately implement the collective-defense commitments of the Makkah Alliance for Defense, including measures to facilitate the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
The decision was reached Monday during an emergency meeting of the alliance’s Strategic Political and Defense Committee in Riyadh, convened to address security developments and threats facing the Kingdom.
The meeting brought together senior political and military officials from the three member states. Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, while Pakistan sent Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Saudi Arabia was represented by senior political and defense officials, including Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
Collective Defense Commitments Activated
Following the meeting, the three countries said they would move immediately toward the practical implementation of their collective-defense commitments.
The joint statement said the parties would take the necessary measures to make agreed military forces and capabilities available and ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia. Any deployment would be conducted under previously approved arrangements and in accordance with the national laws of the three countries.
The countries said the measures were intended to strengthen military readiness and integration and improve their collective ability to respond to security threats.
The agreement also states that the security of each member is an integral part of the collective security of all three countries.
Meeting Follows Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The emergency session comes amid escalating regional security tensions and continuing attacks against Saudi territory attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The three governments condemned what they described as attempts to target the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, as well as continuing attacks against Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure. They reaffirmed their opposition to attacks or threats against Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said the meeting reflected the three countries’ solidarity and unified position in responding to attacks against the Kingdom and the holy sites. He said the alliance would activate collective deterrence measures within the framework of the agreement.
The development follows a broader escalation in Yemen, where Saudi-backed government forces have launched operations against Houthi forces around strategic areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major international maritime chokepoint.
Pakistan and Türkiye Prepare for Military Deployment
The joint statement did not publicly specify the number, composition or timetable of forces to be deployed to Saudi Arabia.
Instead, the three governments said the agreed military forces and capabilities would be made available and deployed rapidly according to established arrangements and domestic legal requirements.
The decision represents a significant operational step for the Makkah Defense Alliance, which was established by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye through a defense agreement signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026. The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The pact established a framework for closer defense cooperation and collective security among the three countries.
Alliance Appoints First Secretary-General
The emergency meeting also marked a step in establishing the alliance’s institutional structure.
The committee appointed Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood (Ret.) of Pakistan as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Alliance for Defense for a three-year term. The three countries welcomed his appointment and said they expected him to contribute to advancing the alliance’s objectives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The committee also reviewed the outcomes of political and military consultations held before the Riyadh meeting and approved recommendations presented to it.
A New Phase for the Makkah Defense Pact
The Riyadh meeting is the latest step in the rapid development of the three-country defense arrangement.
The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee was held in Istanbul on August 31, bringing together foreign and defense ministers and military chiefs from the three countries. That meeting focused on regional security, institutionalizing the alliance and promoting cooperation among its members.
The latest decision to move toward the rapid deployment of agreed military capabilities marks a shift from establishing the alliance’s political and institutional framework toward practical implementation of its collective-defense commitments.
The three countries said their cooperation was aimed at protecting their security, sovereignty and territorial integrity and strengthening their collective ability to respond to threats.
Prepared by:
HornPost staff
