Alliance activated in Mecca

On October 5 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan decided to activate the Mecca Defense Alliance without delay. The agreement, signed on August 7 in Mecca, had never been invoked before. Ankara and Islamabad will provide military forces and capabilities, deployed quickly within the kingdom.

Response to Houthi attacks

Riyadh refers to collective deterrence measures in response to several weeks of Houthi attacks, which included missiles and drones targeting Saudi cities and airports. Riyadh also accuses the rebels of targeting Mecca in mid-September, a claim the Houthis deny. The joint statement condemns attempts to target Mecca and Medina but does not name the Houthis.

Mokha recaptured by Saudi forces

In Yemen, on the same day, the forces of the internationally recognized government announced the recapture of Mokha, a Red Sea port located near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The coalition led by Riyadh provided air support. The Houthis had held the city since early September, and their spokesperson claims they retain all their gains, without mentioning Mokha.

Strategic importance of the strait

The strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait is underscored by the fact that traffic through Ormuz has been disrupted since the start of the war against Iran, which ended in February. According to IMF PortWatch, traffic through the strait was nearly non-existent at the beginning of October. Since March, the kingdom has transported a large part of its crude oil via pipeline to Yanbu on the Red Sea.

Military strength of the alliance

The treaty establishes a principle: an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. This clause is comparable to NATO's Article 5. Turkey is the second-largest armed force in NATO in terms of personnel. Pakistan is the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia is among the world's leading oil producers. Together, according to the Global Firepower Index 2026, they have nearly 1.4 million active military personnel.

Historical military ties

Between Riyadh and Islamabad, military ties are longstanding. From 1967 to 2014, about 8,250 Saudi cadets graduated from Pakistani military academies, according to the Pakistani Parliament. The two countries have also signed a bilateral defense mutual agreement in September 2025. The joint statement does not specify the number of personnel, equipment, or schedule.

Turkey's parliamentary approval needed

On the Turkish side, the key is the Parliament. It must approve the treaty before ratification. On October 8, the head of diplomacy, Hakan Fidan, assessed the text as ready to be submitted to him. According to him, the agreement is defensive and does not allow Ankara to send troops to another country to attack. According to Al-Monitor, Turkey excludes a direct military role in Yemen.

U.S. not part of the alliance

The United States, Saudi Arabia's main arms supplier, are not members of the agreement. On September 14, vice president JD Vance mentioned "direct conversations" with the Houthis. According to an American official cited by AP, Centcom shares intelligence with Saudi forces and supports their planning. Regional officials cited by the same agency report declining interceptor stocks in Riyadh and Washington.

Trump's response and historical context

On October 7, Donald Trump considered it "good" that Turkey and Pakistan want to help Saudi Arabia. Turks and Pakistanis have already been allies. In 1955, the Baghdad Pact brought them together with Iran, Iraq, and the United Kingdom against the USSR. The United States supported it. It was dissolved in 1979. Two steps are now expected: the vote by the Turkish Parliament and the announcement of the first deployments.