By Iftikhar Mashwani
ISLAMABAD- Pakistan,Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are preparing for an urgent meeting of their military chiefs following an escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks against the Riyyadh.
The talks are expected to focus on ways of supporting Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which provides that an armed attack against one member is to be treated as an attack against all three parties.
Makkah Joint Defence Agreement:
Turkiye,Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the trilateral defence agreement on 7 August ,2026.
The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence and expand defence cooperation among the three countries.
The three countries have since begun establishing mechanisms for implementing the pact. Their foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs met in Istanbul on 31 August, where they agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia and deepen military coordination.
Houthi Attacks:
The proposed military talks come amid intensified Houthi attacks originating from Yemen.
Saudi authorities have reported the interception of ballistic missiles launched towards the Kingdom, while Houthi forces have claimed attacks against sensitive targets and energy-related infrastructure.
The escalation has also raised wider concerns over the security of the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and regional energy infrastructure, all of which are strategically important for international trade and energy supplies.
Pakistan’s Position:
Pakistan is a direct party to the Makkah defence agreement and maintains longstanding defence and security ties with Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad has repeatedly expressed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security. However, current reporting does not establish that Pakistan has decided to deploy combat forces to Yemen or launch military operations against the Houthis.
The forthcoming military-level discussions are therefore significant for determining the practical scope of any assistance.
Türkiye’s Position:
Türkiye has also expressed readiness to support Saudi Arabia under the defence agreement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Ankara could assist Saudi Arabia with its military and technical requirements, while simultaneously stressing the importance of diplomatic efforts to contain the wider regional crisis.
Wider International Support:
Saudi Arabia has also received defensive support and political backing from other international partners.
The United Kingdom has agreed to provide defensive air-to-air refuelling support following a Saudi request.
On 22 September, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself under international law and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the sustainable route towards resolving regional conflicts.
Military Significance:
The proposed chiefs of staff meeting could become an important test of how the Makkah defence agreement operates in a real security crisis.
Possible areas of discussion include:
– air and missile defence;
– intelligence and information-sharing;
– military logistics and technical assistance;
– command and communications coordination;
– protection of strategic infrastructure;
– maritime security and protection of commercial routes.
However, no confirmed announcement has established that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to conduct a joint offensive operation against the Houthis.
Assessment:
The immediate significance of the meeting lies in the transition from political commitments under the Makkah agreement towards practical defence coordination.
For Saudi Arabia, the priority is protection of its territory and strategic infrastructure.
For Pakistan and Türkiye, the central issue is determining the form and extent of assistance required under the collective-defence framework.
The outcome of the military chiefs’ discussions, together with any subsequent official statements, will provide the clearest indication of how the agreement will be implemented in response to the current escalation.
Key Point:
Saudi Arabia has activated consultations with Pakistan and Türkiye under their new trilateral defence framework following intensified Houthi attacks.
The next stage is a military-level assessment of Saudi Arabia’s defence requirements and the possible forms of assistance.
