Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani Chiefs Reaffirm Mecca Defence Pact Amid Houthi Strikes

BRUSSELS — Senior military officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan convened in Riyadh on 26 September 2026 to review the Mecca (Makkah) defence alliance and to plan a coordinated response to recent Houthi missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Alliance background

The Mecca defence pact, signed in 2024, obliges the three states to provide mutual military assistance if any signatory’s territory or vital interests are threatened. The agreement was originally framed to counter regional instability and to safeguard the pilgrimage routes to the holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

Houthi activity prompting the talks

Since early August, Houthi rebels based in Yemen have launched at least six missile or drone strikes on merchant ships transiting the Bab al‑Mandeb strait, according to maritime security reports. The attacks have disrupted oil shipments and raised insurance premiums for vessels passing through the corridor.

Meeting details

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman hosted the three chiefs of staff at the Kingdom’s General Staff Headquarters. The Turkish delegation was led by General Yaşar Güler, chief of the General Staff, while Pakistan was represented by General Asim Munir, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The three sides exchanged operational updates, reviewed intelligence on Houthi launch sites, and agreed to increase joint patrols in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

In an official statement released after the meeting, the Saudi Ministry of Defence said the allies reaffirmed their commitment to “protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty and the safety of international navigation” under the Mecca pact. The statement added that the parties would “enhance coordination of air, naval and electronic warfare capabilities” to deter further attacks.

Strategic coordination

According to the Turkish Armed Forces’ press release, the meeting resulted in a decision to deploy additional Turkish naval assets to the Red Sea, including a frigate equipped with the HISAR‑A air‑defence system. Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence indicated that its navy would increase patrols in the Arabian Sea and share real‑time surveillance data with Saudi and Turkish command centres.

The three militaries also discussed the possibility of establishing a joint command centre in Riyadh to streamline intelligence sharing and to coordinate rapid response to any future Houthi strikes.

Regional and global context

The meeting comes as Western navies continue to conduct escort missions for commercial ships in the Red Sea under Operation Prosperity Guardian, a NATO‑led effort launched in 2023. Analysts note that the Mecca alliance provides a regional counterweight to the Houthi‑Iran nexus, although no official Iranian delegation was present.

U.S. Central Command has publicly welcomed the increased cooperation among the three allies, stating that “regional partners remain essential to maintaining the free flow of commerce through this critical maritime corridor.”

Outlook

All three governments indicated that the alliance will remain active for the foreseeable future and that further joint exercises are planned for early 2027. No immediate military deployment was announced beyond the assets already in the region.