Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye Strengthen Makkah Defence Alliance
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have reaffirmed collective defence commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement amid heightened regional security concerns.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement during a meeting of their senior military chiefs in Riyadh. The talks came amid heightened security concerns following attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Saudi territory and infrastructure.
The trilateral agreement, signed on August 7, states that an armed attack against one member will be treated as an attack against all three. The countries are now working to translate that commitment into practical military cooperation, including stronger intelligence sharing, coordination and integration of defence capabilities.
At the Riyadh meeting, the military chiefs reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia and condemned attacks targeting Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure. They also praised the Saudi armed forces for their role in protecting the kingdom.
The meeting followed discussions among the three countries’ foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where they reviewed plans to establish the alliance’s secretariat, committees and working groups. Pakistan has also appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the pact’s first secretary-general.
The Riyadh talks mark another step toward operationalising the new defence framework as regional security tensions remain high. For the three partners, the message is clear: the pact is moving from diplomatic paperwork towards actual military coordination.
