Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Hold Defence Talks in Riyadh Following Houthi Strikes

Military chiefs activate mutual defence talks

The military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan convened in Riyadh on 25 September 2026 to begin implementing the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Military delegations led by Turkish Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and Pakistani Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir joined Saudi counterparts to coordinate intelligence sharing, capability integration, and regional security measures. The tripartite accord was originally signed on 7 August 2026 in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Designed with a mutual assistance structure, the pact establishes that an armed attack against any one of the three member states is considered an attack against all three.

Escalating strikes test the August pact

The Riyadh talks follow an escalation in missile and drone strikes conducted by Houthi forces against Saudi territory. On 24 September 2026, Saudi air defence units intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles directed toward the Taif region and the port city of Yanbu, which serves as an oil export terminal during the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Houthi military spokesmen stated that they had targeted locations in Riyadh and Aramco installations in Yanbu with drones and projectiles. On 15 September 2026, Saudi authorities downed an armed drone near Mecca, an incident the Houthis disputed. Following the strikes, Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan issued a statement calling on Saudi armed forces to remain prepared to defend the kingdom and its sovereignty.

Diplomatic talks in New York and Ankara

The convening of military commanders followed diplomatic consultations held on 24 September 2026 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met to finalize the military session under the terms of the Mecca agreement, affirming Saudi Arabia's right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. During his address to the UN General Assembly in New York, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the security situation directly.

The attempted drone attack on the holy city of Mecca al-Mukarramah has outraged Muslims across the globe. Any threat to safety and sanctity... is a red line that must never be crossed. No Muslim can even dare to think of committing such a heinous (act).

In Ankara, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus clarified on 25 September 2026 that the agreement is scheduled for legislative ratification once the Turkish parliament returns from its recess in October 2026. Kurtulmus noted that while initial assistance remains bilateral and technical, the long-term goal is a broader security architecture that could potentially incorporate other regional nations, including Iran.

We never see the Mecca Agreement as a pact against Iran, it must not be that way. In fact, we hope the Mecca Agreement can turn into a broader agreement for the Muslim world. Iran can join this agreement too, we hope it will become much stronger with the participation of other regional countries.