Turkiye and Pakistan deploy forces to Saudi Arabia under Mecca pact
Turkiye and Pakistan activate a mutual defense pact signed in August. They deploy forces to Saudi Arabia to counter Houthi attacks.
The three-nation Mecca Alliance met on Monday in Riyadh. The alliance agreed to activate joint defense measures for the first time since the pact was signed on August 7.
Turkiye and Pakistan will send forces to Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claimed attacks on the King Khalid International airport in Riyadh and the Aramco refinery.
The agreement works like NATO's founding treaty. An attack on any member is treated as an attack on all three.
Saudi Arabia's defence minister said the alliance reaffirmed the countries' unity against what it called heinous attacks on the kingdom and holy sites. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed the countries will provide agreed military forces and capabilities.
They will deploy them quickly under approved arrangements and according to each nation's laws. The three countries have nearly 1.4 million active troops combined.
Together they have about 3,400 aircraft, 6,000 tanks and more than 340 naval vessels.
- August 7
- Pact signed
- 1.4 million
- Combined active troops
- 3,400
- Combined aircraft
- Attack on one treated as attack on all
- NATO-like provision
Why it mattersThis move signals a formal shift. Countries are moving from mediation to direct military action in the Yemen conflict. This could increase regional tensions and reshape military alliances in the region.
AustraliaAustralia has defence and intelligence ties across the region; any Middle East escalation may affect regional stability and Australian military deployments or diplomatic policy.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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