Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye Vow to Implement Makkah Defence Alliance

Riyadh Meeting and the Push for Collective Defence

Senior military leadership gathered in the Saudi capital on Friday to establish concrete mechanisms for the tripartite pact. The meeting included Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, alongside the chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. Participants discussed enhancing intelligence sharing, coordinating military movements, and integrating defence capabilities to build stronger regional deterrence.

The urgency behind the talks stems from escalating violence in the region. Recent weeks have seen renewed fighting between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, accompanied by a declared maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, Red Sea shipping attacks, and direct drone or missile strikes inside the kingdom. During the Riyadh meeting, the military chiefs strongly ‘resented’ attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah as well as local civilian and economic infrastructure, praising the professionalism of the Saudi Armed Forces in maintaining security.

Institutionalizing the Tripartite Alliance

The military consultation follows a rapid institutional build-out of the alliance. Following the initial August signing at the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, the Strategic Political and Defence Committee met in Istanbul on August 31. That meeting laid the groundwork for a permanent secretariat in Riyadh. Pakistan subsequently appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the alliance’s first secretary general for a three-year term.

Practical military assistance remains tied to specific Saudi requirements and consensus among the three partners. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that Ankara stands ready to address the kingdom’s military and technical needs. Meanwhile, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Field Marshal Munir in Riyadh to review the outcomes of the chiefs of staff meeting, confirming their joint commitment to confronting ongoing threats under the framework of the agreement.

Regional Implications and Future Expansion

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus suggested that the defense pact could eventually evolve into a wider security framework for the Muslim world, explicitly noting that Iran could join the arrangement without it being viewed as a hostile posture. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also voiced support for a broader regional security architecture involving Tehran.

The formalization of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement marks a shift in Middle Eastern collective security.