Turkey and Pakistan agree to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia under Mecca pact

Turkey and Pakistan agreed with Saudi Arabia to deploy military forces on Saudi territory to ensure the kingdom's security, under the Mecca defense agreement. The decision was announced in a joint statement published on Pakistan's foreign ministry website, and Turkey's foreign ministry press service reported it after an emergency meeting of the Strategic Committee on Political and Defense Issues of the Mecca Alliance. Interfax reported that the meeting of Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia took place in Riyadh on October 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The committee said it would “immediately begin practical implementation of collective defense obligations” and take the necessary measures to allocate agreed military contingents and assets, Vedomosti reported, citing the document on Pakistan's foreign ministry page on X. The statement said the security of each of the three participants is an integral part of their collective security, and that the move to practical action reflected the seriousness of the situation. [ 3 , 4 ]

The joint statement condemned attempts to attack Mecca and Medina, as well as continuing attacks on cities and civilian and economic facilities in the kingdom, and expressed what Interfax described as “unconditional rejection of any attacks or threats” against Saudi security and territorial integrity. Turkey and Pakistan also praised the professionalism and readiness of the Saudi armed forces, according to Kommersant. [ 2 , 4 ]

The Mecca agreement was signed on August 7 in Mecca and enshrines a collective response principle: an armed attack on any of the three countries is to be treated as an attack on the others, Kommersant and Interfax reported. Kommersant noted that in practice the agreement does not create an automatic military response or a unified command, as it sets no procedure for the immediate use of force; protection of the kingdom therefore requires a separate political decision and coordination between the participants. Coordination is to be handled by a secretariat in Saudi Arabia and a political-military committee, whose first meeting has already been held, Kommersant reported. [ 2 , 4 ]

The decision came amid reported attacks and warnings. In mid-September, Saudi military command said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone approaching Mecca before it entered the city's airspace, Kommersant reported. On October 5, Yemen's recognized authorities announced the start of a military operation called “Dawn of Yemen,” aimed at taking control of the capital Sanaa, which is held by the Houthi movement Ansar Allah, Vedomosti reported. The same day, a humanitarian operations coordination center under Ansar Allah control urged airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, saying it “will become a theater of military operations” and that Houthi units disclaimed responsibility for the consequences, according to Vedomosti. [ 2 , 3 ]

Kommersant also reported earlier arrangements: in May 2026, the practical model of Pakistan's presence included 8,000 servicemen, a squadron of JF-17 fighters and an HQ-9 air defense system, financed by Saudi Arabia, with direct command retained by Pakistan. In September 2026, after a Saudi request for military assistance, Pakistani authorities began planning a limited air operation against the Houthis, the same report said. [ 2 ]