Top defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey convened in Riyadh on Friday, September 25, firmly reiterating their collective commitment to safeguard the Gulf Kingdom's security. This high-level meeting came in response to recent aggression by Yemen's Houthi rebels and solidified the principles of the Makkah Defence Alliance, established last month.
The trilateral defence pact, signed by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Makkah on August 7, 2026, outlines a framework for mutual deterrence. Its core tenet dictates that an armed assault against any signatory nation would be considered an attack on all three.
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Army on Saturday, September 26, chiefs of defence forces and chiefs of general staff participated in the Riyadh discussions. They thoroughly assessed the prevailing security landscape and the specific threats confronting Saudi Arabia. The participants 'strongly affirmed their commitment to collective defence,' underscoring the three nations' resolve to protect Saudi Arabia's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
During the meeting, officials condemned the attacks targeting the Holy City of Makkah, alongside civilian and economic infrastructure. They also commended the Saudi Armed Forces for their vigilance and professional conduct. Discussions extended to enhancing cooperation among their respective armed forces, focusing on improved intelligence sharing, military coordination, and capability integration. The officials noted that their Riyadh gathering demonstrated the strength of their defence partnership and their shared determination to translate the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement's commitments into immediate, effective military collaboration.
This significant meeting followed a gathering of the three nations' foreign ministers in New York just a day prior, where they addressed challenges facing the kingdom. Further cementing the alliance's structure, Pakistan appointed former Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood as its first secretary-general on Wednesday, September 23.
Image: siasat.com
đź“° Source: Siasat Gulf