Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey activated the Mecca Pact on October 5, 2026, agreeing to deploy military forces to the kingdom following an emergency Riyadh meeting of the Makkah Alliance. The Strategic Political and Defense Committee took immediate steps toward collective deterrence amid continuing regional threats and Houthi attacks.
Emergency Riyadh Meeting Activates Mecca Defence Pact
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey moved swiftly into its implementation phase following an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee in Riyadh. The three countries agreed to prepare military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment inside Saudi territory. According to a joint statement, the deployment will follow approved arrangements and comply with the national laws of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.
The operational activation comes in response to continuing regional security threats, specifically a sustained campaign of attacks linked to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. Senior political, defense, and military officials gathered to transition the pact from a diplomatic framework into active military coordination. The original agreement, signed on August 7, stipulates that an armed attack against any single member nation is treated as an attack on all three.
The joint committee decided to move immediately toward the practical execution of these collective defense commitments.
Defense Officials from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Meet in Riyadh
The high-level talks in Riyadh brought together top defense brass from all three member states. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, participated alongside Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif to represent Pakistan. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman acting as Defence Minister, and General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili serving as Chief of General Staff handled the responsibilities for Saudi Arabia.
In addition to organizing military readiness, the committee selected former Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood to take on the role of the inaugural Secretary-General for the Makkah Alliance for Defense. He will serve a three-year term leading the permanent secretariat established in Saudi Arabia. Ministers previously reviewed the groundwork for these administrative bodies during a meeting at the Kingdom’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Pakistan’s Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss setting up the secretariat, committees, and working groups.
Collective Deterrence and Condemnation of Regional Attacks
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman emphasized the united stance of the alliance through social media, highlighting the commitment to neutralize security threats directed at the kingdom and its holy places.
The member states praised the Saudi Armed Forces for maintaining constant vigilance and protecting the territorial integrity of the kingdom while advancing their collective defense capabilities.
The participants said that the security of each individual member is essential to their shared collective security. The latest decisions reflect a determination to counter ongoing aggression and ensure regional stability through heightened military cooperation and unified strategic readiness.