Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Agree on Collective Defense Measures
Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia agreed to implement collective defense measures following Houthi attacks, establishing permanent military coordination during an emergency meeting in Riyadh.
Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have agreed to implement "collective deterrence" measures following Houthi attacks against the kingdom. The decision was reached during an emergency meeting of the alliance's strategic political and security committee in Riyadh on October 5.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman stated that the measures are designed to respond to attacks against Saudi Arabia and counter those responsible. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced that the three nations have decided to immediately implement their joint defense commitments.
Practical Implementation of Defense Commitments
According to the announcement, the committee agreed to move immediately to deploy agreed-upon military forces and capabilities within the kingdom. However, the statement omitted specifics regarding troop numbers, participating units, timelines, or engagement rules.
"We discussed what can be done to resolve the issue peacefully and through dialogue. Saudi Arabia has adopted a very constructive approach," said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan following the meeting.
Alliance Leadership and Background
The emergency talks followed meetings between the nations' chiefs of staff in late September and subsequent discussions during the UN General Assembly. The initiative builds upon the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
During the Riyadh session, retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Naoman Mahmood was appointed as the alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term, marking a shift toward permanent military coordination.
