Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Military Chiefs to Meet Under Makkah Pact
Pakistan has not yet officially announced its military chief’s participation in the planned meeting in Saudi Arabia.
Türkiye’s Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu will travel to Saudi Arabia for an urgent meeting with his Pakistani and Saudi counterparts under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), as the three allies coordinate their response to escalating Houthi missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence announced the visit on Friday, following Saudi Arabia’s confirmation that military chiefs from the three countries were preparing to meet to discuss measures to support the Kingdom under their joint defence framework.
Pakistan has not yet officially announced its military chief’s participation in the planned meeting in Saudi Arabia.
The planned military consultations follow a trilateral meeting in New York on Thursday between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The three foreign ministers condemned recent attacks targeting Makkah as well as civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s right to take appropriate measures to defend its security under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
They also discussed preparations for the urgent meeting of their countries’ military chiefs, which is expected to examine practical measures to support Saudi Arabia under the defence agreement.
Meeting Comes Amid Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The consultations come amid an escalation in missile and drone attacks launched by Yemen’s Houthis against Saudi Arabia.
Recent attacks have included attempts to target Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure in the Kingdom, raising security concerns and prompting closer coordination among the three MJDA members.
Saudi air defences have intercepted incoming threats during the latest escalation, while Riyadh and its partners have stressed the Kingdom’s right to defend its territory and population.
During their New York meeting, the Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers also stressed respect for international law and state sovereignty, as well as the importance of protecting freedom of maritime navigation. They reiterated support for efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.
What Is the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026, establishing a trilateral framework for enhanced defence and security cooperation.
A central provision of the agreement states that an attack against one member will be considered an attack against all three, providing the alliance with a collective-defence framework.
The three countries subsequently held the first meeting of the agreement’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul on August 31, where they agreed to establish a permanent General Secretariat in Riyadh to institutionalise coordination under the pact.
Pakistan announced on September 23 that retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, HI(M), had been appointed the first Secretary General under the agreement.
The upcoming meeting of the Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish military chiefs is set to be one of the most significant tests of the newly established defence framework as its members consider how to respond collectively to security threats facing Saudi Arabia.
