Turkiye and Pakistan are rushing their military chiefs to Riyadh following an urgent call from Saudi Arabia to implement the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement amid escalating Houthi attacks in Yemen that have spilled over into Saudi territory. Turkiye’s Defence Ministry confirmed that General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, the chief of general staff, is traveling to Saudi Arabia, while Pakistan’s chief of defence forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is also expected to arrive soon, according to Al Jazeera.
Military Chiefs Convene Under Mecca Joint Defence Agreement
The emergency meetings follow weeks of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory. According to the Houthis, dozens of drones and missiles were launched at Saudi targets, including Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu and a purported strike on a sensitive target in Riyadh. Saudi authorities reported that air defences intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu, alongside emergency alerts issued for Mecca, Jeddah, and Yanbu.
Signed on August 7, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement treats an armed attack against Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, or Pakistan as an attack against all three signatories. The diplomatic push for an urgent meeting of the chiefs of staff began after a September 24 meeting in New York involving Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Divergent Diplomatic Tones and Strategic Caution
The three participating nations adopted noticeably different tones regarding the defence pact’s implementation. The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the attacks on Mecca and civilian infrastructure, affirming the kingdom’s right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
In contrast, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar posted on X that officials reviewed progress toward establishing institutional structures under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Turkish state media similarly described the New York gathering as a review of technical negotiations. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan struck a sharper note in a live interview with NTV, stating, "Our agreement includes an alliance commitment, we stand by our word," while adding that military needs could be met in specific technical areas.
Analyst Tughral Yamin, a retired brigadier and senior associate at the Institute of Policy Studies in Islamabad, noted that both countries face substantial operational constraints. Yamin told Al Jazeera that sending troops would prove difficult because the Pakistan Army remains stretched thin by border clashes with Afghanistan, tensions with India, and domestic security threats. Turkiye faces similar hurdles regarding troop diversions due to its NATO commitments and insecure border with Syria.
Houthi Territorial Advances and Direct Warnings
The cautious posture from Ankara and Islamabad aligns with direct threats issued by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. Houthis recently seized the strategic port city of Mocha and nearly the entire Red Sea coast, gaining control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait after the US-Iran war disrupted the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, warned in an Iraqi television broadcast that Pakistan and Turkiye would face an "iron fist" if they entered the conflict. Meanwhile, retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, a former senior officer in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, was appointed as the pact’s first secretary general to assess the situation from Riyadh.
Since 1967, Pakistan has provided training for thousands of Saudi military personnel, and it has had troops deployed within the kingdom since the 1970s.
Domestic Mobilization and International Support
Religious and political figures in Saudi Arabia have escalated their rhetoric to rally public support. Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan urged forces to unite against the Houthis, framing border defense as a sacred duty. Gokhan Ereli, an international relations expert at Ibn Haldun University, explained that the mufti’s statements serve primarily as a domestic mobilization tool for frontline soldiers rather than altering the formal terms of foreign alliances.
Additional defensive support has arrived from European allies. Britain agreed to refuel Saudi jets on defensive missions, and France confirmed it is deploying troops to guard the major oil terminal at Yanbu. Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus noted that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement will be formally submitted for parliamentary approval when the Turkish assembly returns from recess on October 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?
Signed on August 7, the pact treats an attack on Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, or Pakistan as an attack on all three nations, prompting institutional coordination and joint military leadership meetings.
Why are Turkiye and Pakistan sending military chiefs to Riyadh?
The countries are responding to a Saudi call for an urgent meeting of chiefs of staff to implement the mutual defense agreement following weeks of Houthi missile and drone strikes.
Have Turkish and Pakistani parliaments ratified the pact?
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus stated that the agreement has not yet received parliamentary approval and will be submitted when the assembly reconvenes.
What role do European nations play in the current crisis?
Britain has agreed to refuel Saudi jets on defensive missions, and France is deploying troops to guard the critical oil terminal at Yanbu.
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