Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Military Chiefs Meet in Riyadh Under Makkah Defence Pact

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — The military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye met in Riyadh on Friday under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, reviewing regional security developments and threats facing Saudi Arabia amid a recent escalation in missile and drone attacks.

Pakistan’s military said the meeting was attended by the chiefs of defence forces and chiefs of general staff of the three member states. The participants discussed ways to strengthen defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, military coordination and the integration of defence capabilities to reinforce collective deterrence and defence.

The military chiefs expressed concern over attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. They also reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence and to protecting Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The meeting followed a decision by the three countries’ foreign ministers in New York to convene an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to explore ways of supporting Saudi Arabia under the Makkah agreement. The agreement provides that an attack against one of its parties is to be considered an attack against all parties.

Reuters reported that the defence pact could potentially develop into a broader arrangement involving other Muslim-majority countries. Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said on Friday that the agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could eventually expand into a wider pact for the Muslim world, potentially including Iran.

The Riyadh meeting comes as Saudi Arabia faces intensified attacks by Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen. Earlier reports said Saudi air defenses intercepted ballistic missiles and drones targeting areas including Taif, Yanbu and other parts of the kingdom.

AFP reported that the urgent military talks were convened as Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia intensified, placing the newly established defence framework under its first major security test.

Reuters previously reported that Türkiye had expressed readiness to help meet Saudi Arabia’s military requirements under the pact, while Pakistan had also reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement. At the same time, both countries have emphasized their broader diplomatic efforts to contain the regional conflict.

The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026. The pact is intended to strengthen collective deterrence and defence cooperation, while mechanisms for its implementation have been developed through subsequent ministerial and military-level meetings.

At a meeting in Istanbul on August 31, the three countries agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia and deepen cooperation in defence industries, joint technology development and military capabilities.

The latest Riyadh meeting marks a further step toward translating the agreement’s collective-defence commitments into operational military coordination as regional tensions continue to rise.