Senior military commanders from Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia convened in Riyadh on Friday to discuss defence assistance for the Saudi kingdom following a resurgence of Houthi attacks.
The high-level talks, conducted under the framework of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, brought together Turkiye’s Chief of General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Official photographs released later by Ankara showed the three military leaders gathered together in uniform, reports Turkiye Today.
The summit of defence chiefs took place a day after a preparatory session in New York, where Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
During their gathering, the diplomats finalised arrangements for the urgent meeting of military heads to consider support measures for Saudi Arabia under their tripartite pact.
The foreign ministers also reviewed advancement toward setting up the agreement’s general secretariat, specialized committees, and working groups.
They issued a firm condemnation of attacks directed at Mecca as well as civilian and economic facilities across Saudi Arabia, whilst praising the Saudi Armed Forces for safeguarding the kingdom.
Moreover, the diplomatic leaders reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s inherent entitlement to implement all necessary self-defence measures in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Emphasising compliance with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, good neighbourly relations, non-interference in domestic affairs, and the security and freedom of navigation, the ministers reiterated their joint dedication to pursuing de-escalation, peaceful conflict resolution, and enduring regional stability.
The trilateral alliance was formally established in August 2026 during a summit in Mecca, where Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan pledged to deepen defence cooperation, bolster collective security, and foster global and regional peace.
Under the core terms of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, an attack launched against any single member country is classified as an attack against all three nations.
This joint military consultation occurs amidst a sharp escalation by Yemen’s Houthi forces, who have intensified strikes on Saudi Arabia since July, ending a multi-year truce.
The Houthis have declared a maritime blockade, launched strikes on Saudi targets, and seized Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline in an effort to restrict Saudi oil exports. Neither Turkiye nor Pakistan has carried out military strikes against the Houthi movement to date.
