Pakistan and Saudi Arabia activate three-state Mecca defence pact
The agreement now has two of three required ratifications as Houthi attacks on the kingdom intensify.
By Kofi Greco ·
Pakistan has completed its domestic approval of a collective defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The three nations signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on 7 August 2026. The deal was signed in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The pact commits each state to provide support if an external armed attack occurs. The specific type of aid depends on the situation.
Islamabad and Riyadh finished their ratification steps by Friday, according to Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan. Turkey is currently processing its own approval. The three parties are discussing how to make the agreement operational.
A meeting of the three countries' Strategic Political and Defence Committee took place on 5 October. The group decided to implement collective defence commitments. They also agreed to deploy military forces rapidly into Saudi Arabia if needed. Each country will follow its own domestic laws for deployment.
Saudi Arabia faces active threats from Yemen's Houthis. Civil Defence issued warnings this week for the Abha and Khamis Mushait areas in the southwest. Authorities later reported that the immediate danger had passed. They told residents to avoid gathering or filming in those zones.
Reuters reported on 21 October that allies provided mainly defensive support to Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has worked to protect its infrastructure from missile and drone strikes.
Israel announced large-scale military exercises for Sunday and Monday. The drills involve the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands. They will rehearse surprise air and land attacks. The military stated the goal is to test readiness for attacks on multiple fronts.
Washington and Tel Aviv are reportedly weighing new military action against Iran. President Trump said on Friday that the United States might launch another operation as the conflict nears its eighth month. A report from The Business Times cited US officials who said plans exist for fresh strikes after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile systems.
Source: Middle East Eye
