Turkey and Pakistan have announced a “rapid deployment” of troops to Saudi Arabia as part of a new mutual defense alliance, responding to escalating threats from Yemen’s Houthi forces. This decision follows the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, which commits the three nations to assist each other in the event of an attack.
During an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud discussed recent Houthi attacks targeting Saudi cities, including the holy sites of Makkah and Medina. While the joint statement did not explicitly name the Houthis, it emphasized their collective rejection of any threats to Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity.
Details of the Defense Pact
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement unites Turkey, which possesses NATO’s second-largest army, with Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed nation in the Islamic world, alongside Saudi Arabia. The agreement aims to enhance military cooperation and ensure rapid deployment capabilities in response to regional threats.
The joint statement from the three nations indicated an immediate move towards implementing their collective defense commitments, although it did not specify the exact roles the deployed troops would assume once in Saudi Arabia.
Escalating Houthi Threats
Saudi Arabia has faced a series of Houthi attacks targeting its infrastructure and cities since the resurgence of Yemen’s civil war in July. In September, the Houthis launched a new offensive, capturing significant territory from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. In response, the Yemeni government initiated a counteroffensive with support from Riyadh, aiming to reclaim areas held by the Houthis for over a decade.
This military collaboration among Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia reflects a strategic response to the evolving security landscape in the region, particularly as the Houthis continue to pose a significant threat to Saudi Arabia’s stability.
For further details, see the report from Gulf Times.
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