The high-level meeting was attended by senior defence and military officials from all three countries. ( Photo- Reuters)

Mecca Pact activated: Pakistan, Turkey to rapidly deploy troops to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have moved to operationalise the Mecca Pact with rapid force deployment arrangements. The step comes amid persistent security threats to the kingdom and signals a tighter collective defence posture.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Emergency Riyadh meeting approved immediate implementation of collective defence commitments
  • Three nations condemn attacks targeting Mecca, Madina and Saudi infrastructure
  • The alliance said the move would boost readiness, integration and response capacity

The Mecca Pact was activated on Monday, with Pakistan and Turkey agreeing to move towards the rapid deployment of troops and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia under their new mutual defence alliance.

The decision was announced after an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defense in Riyadh on October 5. The move comes amid continuing attacks and security threats facing Saudi Arabia, including those linked to the Iran-aligned Houthis.

The joint statement shared by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the committee had decided to “move immediately to the practical implementation” of collective defence commitments and take necessary measures to provide agreed military forces and capabilities for their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.

The joint statement said the committee had decided to “move immediately to the practical implementation” of collective defence commitments.

MILITARY FORCES TO BE DEPLOYED UNDER AGREED TERMS

The deployment will be carried out in accordance with approved arrangements and the national laws of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, the statement said.

The move is aimed at strengthening military readiness, improving integration between the three countries and enhancing their collective ability to respond to threats.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey also condemned what they described as attempts to target Mecca and Madina, along with continuing attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities.

The three countries praised the Saudi Armed Forces for their vigilance and readiness and their role in protecting the kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.

SENIOR MILITARY, DEFENCE OFFICIALS ATTEND RIYADH MEETING

The high-level meeting was attended by senior defence and military officials from all three countries. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu represented Ankara.

Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Saudi Arabia was represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud leave after a committee meeting of Mecca defence pact in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan’s retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, who has been appointed Secretary-General of the Mecca defence pact, also took part in the meeting.

PAKISTANI GENERAL NAMED FIRST SECRETARY-GENERAL

The committee appointed Pakistan’s Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood (Ret.) as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Alliance for Defense for a three-year term.

The three countries said the security of each member was an integral part of their collective security. They stressed that implementing the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense demonstrated their commitment to collective defence and would strengthen deterrence.

HOUTHI THREATS ADD TO REGIONAL TENSIONS

The activation of the pact comes as Saudi Arabia faces a sustained campaign from the Houthis, including attacks the group says have targeted the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

The latest move marks a significant step in military cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, with the three countries signalling a coordinated response to threats against the kingdom.

The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three would be treated as an attack on all three.

Since then, the countries have worked to establish the institutions needed to make the pact operational. Their foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs met in Istanbul in August, while the military chiefs held further discussions in Riyadh on September 25.

- Ends