Pakistan completes ratification of Mecca defense pact
Saudi Arabia faces Houthi attacks while Turkey continues its domestic approval process.
By Adewale Fletcher ·
Pakistan announced on Friday that it has formally ratified a joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed that Islamabad and Riyadh have both finished their respective ratification procedures for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The three nations signed the document on 7 August in Mecca. Khan stated that discussions regarding the agreement's operationalization continue among the three parties.
The pact establishes a framework for collective defense if any of the three states faces an external armed attack. The specific nature and level of assistance will be determined by the circumstances of each incident. Islamabad has characterized the deal as defensive and consistent with the United Nations Charter. The agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Turkey has not yet completed its domestic approval process, meaning the treaty has not been ratified by all three signatories. A meeting of the three nations' Strategic Political and Defence Committee on 5 October moved the deal closer to implementation. That body called for the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia, subject to each country's domestic laws, to fulfill collective defense commitments.
The announcement coincides with renewed security threats in the region. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued warnings this week regarding potential dangers in Abha and Khamis Mushait in the southwest. Authorities advised residents to follow safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming in those areas, though they later indicated the immediate danger had passed. Officials did not specify the nature of the threat.
These alerts aligned with Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi territory. Reuters reported on 21 October that Riyadh's allies were primarily providing defensive support as the kingdom sought to protect its infrastructure from further attacks. The situation adds pressure on the new alliance as it prepares for operational deployment.
Regional tensions remain high as the Israeli military announced large-scale exercises in its northern and central regions for Sunday and Monday. These drills involve the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands. They rehearse scenarios of surprise air and land attacks and infiltrations to test readiness against multi-front threats.
Washington and Tel Aviv are reportedly weighing new military action against Iran. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States might conduct another operation as the conflict approaches its eighth month. A report by The Business Times cited US officials who said American and Israeli forces have drawn up plans for fresh strikes after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone capabilities.
