The Mecca Alliance, a mutual defense pact signed in August, has been formally activated by its three member states. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey agreed on Monday to implement collective deterrence measures following what alliance members characterized as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group against Saudi Arabia.
The decision to trigger the agreement was made during an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee held in Riyadh. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the member countries had determined to “provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment” to the Saudi kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman confirmed that the activation was a direct response to the attacks and those responsible for them.
The agreement marks a significant step, as questions had circulated regarding whether Pakistan and Turkey would actually invoke the defense pact if needed. The activation comes amid escalating military operations in Yemen, where the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has launched a counteroffensive against the Iran-aligned Houthi group, which captured territory in the region last month and has conducted strikes against Saudi targets.
According to the joint statement released by the alliance members, the military deployments will proceed immediately under what the agreement terms “approved arrangements” and will comply with the national laws of each of the three participating countries. The statement did not provide specific details regarding the size, composition, or timeline of the military forces to be deployed.
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