Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Plan Urgent Military Chiefs Meeting
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are preparing an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to examine ways of supporting the kingdom under their joint defence agreement following an escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
The planned meeting was discussed by the three countries’ foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met at Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Thursday.
According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the ministers reviewed arrangements for an urgent meeting of the three countries’ chiefs of staff, which will examine potential mechanisms for supporting Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye in August 2026, establishes a collective-defence framework under which an armed attack against one of the participating countries is considered an attack against all three.
The date and location of the military chiefs’ meeting have not yet been publicly announced, and officials have not specified what form any potential military assistance to Saudi Arabia could take.
Ministers Condemn Attacks on Saudi Arabia
During their New York meeting, the three foreign ministers strongly condemned recent attacks targeting Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
They also praised the Saudi armed forces’ response and reaffirmed the kingdom’s right to defend itself under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, according to reporting based on the Saudi statement.
The ministers stressed respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in states’ internal affairs and the importance of maintaining security and freedom of maritime navigation.
They also reiterated support for de-escalation and diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving sustainable regional peace.
Houthi Attacks Intensify Pressure on Riyadh
The planned meeting follows an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia.
Reuters reported on Friday that the Houthis had stepped up attacks on the kingdom, prompting Riyadh and its allies to consider their response under the trilateral defence framework.
On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis. Saudi defences also thwarted attempts to target Taif and Yanbu, according to The National.
Yanbu is particularly important because it is a major Red Sea energy hub. France has separately announced plans to send troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect the port city.
The attacks have raised broader concerns about regional energy infrastructure and maritime security as instability continues to affect both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Makkah Defence Pact Faces Major Test
The escalating confrontation represents a significant test for the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said last week that Türkiye could help meet Saudi Arabia’s military requirements under the agreement, including technical defence needs.
Pakistan has also publicly reaffirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its security while continuing to support diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.
Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt jointly affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself while stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remained necessary for a sustainable resolution of the conflict.
The planned chiefs-of-staff meeting could therefore clarify how the trilateral pact will operate during an active security crisis.
However, no decision to deploy Pakistani or Turkish combat forces has been announced. Nor have officials disclosed whether the discussions will focus on air defence, intelligence sharing, logistics, military equipment or other forms of assistance.
The development should therefore be described as an urgent military coordination meeting, rather than as confirmation that Pakistan or Türkiye has entered the Yemen conflict militarily.
