Pakistan, Turkey Activate Mecca Defence Pact as Houthi Attacks Escalate in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have agreed to activate collective deterrence measures under their newly established mutual defence pact, following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia. The decision was announced after an emergency meeting of the three countries’ foreign and defence ministers in Riyadh. It marks the first activation of the Mecca Defence Alliance since the agreement was signed on August 7, 2026. Under the pact, an attack against any one of the three members is treated as an attack against all three. The arrangement is broadly comparable to the collective-defence principle contained in NATO’s founding treaty.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman said the alliance had agreed to activate collective deterrence measures in response to attacks against the kingdom and what he described as threats to its holy sites. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the three countries would provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment to Saudi Arabia. The deployment would take place under approved arrangements and in accordance with each country’s domestic laws. The decision comes amid a sharp escalation in Yemen. Forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government have launched a major counteroffensive against the Iran-aligned Houthis, with Saudi Arabia providing military support.

Yemeni government forces have claimed to have retaken the Red Sea port city of Mocha and positions near the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia has also launched an air campaign in support of the offensive. The Houthis, meanwhile, have claimed attacks on several Saudi targets, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Rabigh. Saudi authorities had not independently confirmed all of the Houthi claims at the time of the report. The Mecca pact was created against the backdrop of escalating regional conflicts. Pakistan and Türkiye had previously indicated that an expansion of the Yemen conflict into Saudi territory could trigger the agreement.

The activation of the alliance represents a significant development for regional security. Analysts say it could transform the pact from a political agreement into a functioning military framework, particularly as Saudi Arabia seeks greater protection against missile, drone and other attacks. The deployment of Pakistani and Turkish forces could also raise the stakes in the Yemen conflict, potentially drawing the two countries more directly into a rapidly expanding regional confrontation.