Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have agreed to immediately implement their collective defense commitments under the Makkah Defense Alliance, including the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia. The decision was announced following an emergency meeting of the alliance held in Riyadh on Monday, where representatives from the three countries reaffirmed their unity in response to recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, particularly those against the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
The Makkah Defense Alliance, established through the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement signed in August, stipulates that an armed attack on any member state is considered an attack on all. The pact brings together Turkey, home to NATO’s second-largest conventional military force, Pakistan, the Islamic world’s only nuclear-armed state, and Saudi Arabia, a leading power in the Gulf region.
According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, the countries “unequivocally reject any attack or threat against the kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.” The alliance members committed to moving forward “immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments” and to taking necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment to Saudi Arabia.
The statement emphasized that all actions would be carried out under previously approved arrangements and according to the national laws of each member country. Saudi Arabia’s defense minister echoed these sentiments on social media, highlighting the reaffirmation of solidarity and unity among the three nations in confronting the recent “heinous attacks” against the kingdom and its sacred sites.
This emergency session marks the first activation of the defense pact, underlining the rising security concerns within the region and the commitment of the Makkah Defense Alliance members to collective security measures. The pact notably integrates significant military capabilities, combining Turkey’s extensive conventional forces and Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent with Saudi Arabia’s strategic regional position.