Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Saudi Arabia might have military requirements due to ongoing Houthi attacks, which Turkey would evaluate under a trilateral defence pact with Pakistan. Fidan expressed that Saudi Arabia should not be drawn into the US-Iran conflict.
The expansion of the Mecca Defence Alliance to potentially include Saudi Arabia's military needs in response to Houthi attacks signals a deepening of regional security cooperation and a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape, particularly concerning the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated on Saturday that Saudi Arabia might require military assistance due to ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis. Fidan stated that Turkey would examine these needs within the framework of a trilateral defence pact signed with Pakistan. He also expressed that it is unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to be involved in the US-Iran conflict, emphasizing that the kingdom has no desire to join the fighting. Fidan mentioned that proposals have been conveyed to all parties involved to end the hostilities.
The Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan in August 2026 in Mecca, establishes that an attack on any one member will be considered an attack on all three, mirroring NATO's Article 5. The pact, formally named the Mecca Defence Alliance, aims to institutionalize defence and military ties, involving senior ministers and military chiefs. Plans include joint military exercises across land, naval, and air forces, as well as cooperation in air defense and unmanned systems. The agreement prioritizes joint development and production in areas like unmanned and autonomous systems, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence.
A secretariat for the alliance has been established in Riyadh, with Pakistan set to appoint the first secretary-general. The alliance is founded on principles of respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs, and it remains open to participation from other regional countries. The pact's operational structure and the conditions under which the mutual defence clause would be invoked are still being determined.