Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to provide military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defence agreement as tensions involving Yemen’s Ansarallah movement and Saudi Arabia continue to intensify.
The decision was announced after an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh. The meeting brought together senior officials from Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia to assess the rapidly changing regional security situation and determine how the three countries would respond collectively.
The trilateral defence agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August, establishes a framework for collective deterrence. Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three, creating a formal commitment to strengthen cooperation in the face of shared security threats.
During Monday’s meeting, the committee reviewed political and military consultations held ahead of the gathering and approved recommendations presented by officials. The committee said the Makkah agreement represents a firm commitment to collective defence and a unified response to threats affecting the participating countries.
The most significant decision was to move immediately toward implementing the agreement’s collective defence commitments. The three countries agreed to take the necessary steps to provide the military forces and capabilities required and to ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
However, the joint statement did not provide a specific number of troops, identify particular military units or give a timetable for deployment. It also did not explicitly identify the Houthis as the direct target of the agreement, although the announcement comes amid a sharp escalation involving Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Their participation underlines the importance Islamabad is placing on its defence commitments with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Speaking to Geo News, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces already had a presence in the theatre, while Saudi forces were responsible for combat operations. He described the role of Pakistan and Türkiye as supportive, adding that Pakistan was involved in reconnaissance and that assistance was being provided according to Saudi requirements.
The three countries also strongly condemned attempted attacks targeting Makkah and Madinah, along with continuing attacks against Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure. Pakistan and Türkiye praised the readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces and their efforts to respond to threats facing the Kingdom.
Beyond the immediate military situation, the meeting also marked another step in building the institutional structure of the Makkah defence alliance. The committee appointed retired Pakistani General Nauman Mahmood as its first Secretary-General for a three-year term.
The development comes as the Saudi-led coalition government in Yemen launched a major military campaign aimed at regaining territory controlled by Yemeni fighters. The timing has placed additional attention on the role Pakistan and Türkiye could play as the security situation develops.
The Strategic Political and Defence Committee is one of the central institutions created under the Makkah defence agreement. It includes the foreign ministers, defence ministers and army chiefs of the three participating countries, giving it a broad political and military mandate.
The latest meeting follows a series of high-level consultations. Last month, defence chiefs and chiefs of general staff from Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh to assess the security environment and threats facing the Kingdom. Foreign ministers from the three countries also met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss regional security challenges.
For Pakistan and Türkiye, the latest commitment represents a deeper military and strategic engagement with Saudi Arabia. For the Kingdom, it signals that its partners are prepared to move beyond political statements and contribute practical military capabilities when required.
What remains unclear is the scale and duration of any deployment. The absence of a detailed timetable means the practical shape of the agreement will depend on developments on the ground and further decisions by the three governments.
At its core, the latest move shows how quickly regional alliances can evolve when security threats escalate. Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are now signalling a stronger commitment to collective defence, while the coming weeks will determine how that commitment translates into military action, support and regional strategy.
