Stories
Mecca Pact Faces First Test: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey to Meet Amid Houthi Attacks
- •The Mecca Pact, a trilateral security agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is undergoing its first major test due to escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- •Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif affirmed Islamabad's commitment to defend Saudi Arabia, offering military support under the pact.
- •The strategic committee of the three nations will convene in Riyadh on October 5 to address regional developments, including Houthi attacks and an Iranian proposal for political engagement.
- •The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August, includes a mutual-defense commitment, treating an attack on one member as an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5.
- •The pact aims to deepen military cooperation through joint exercises, technology sharing, training, and coordination, with the upcoming meeting crucial for operationalizing the partnership.
Key Questions Answered
Signed in August, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is a trilateral security pact establishing a mutual-defence commitment where an armed attack on any member country is regarded as an attack on all three. It aims to strengthen collective deterrence and deepen military cooperation.
Escalating attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi targets have put the pact's mutual-defence commitment under intense scrutiny. Pakistan's Defence Minister has stated that Islamabad is prepared to come to the kingdom's defence utilizing available military means under the agreement.
The strategic committee of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is meeting in Riyadh to discuss regional developments, including Houthi attacks and an Iranian proposal for political engagement. They will also work on operational mechanisms to institutionalize their security framework.
