‘Attack one, attack all’: Why Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan have set urgent meet under key pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are set to convene an urgent meeting under their joint defence pact in response to escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthis. This pact, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, was established to collectively deter threats and enhance defensive cooperation among the three nations. The agreement is unique in its similarity to NATO's collective-defence principle, which stipulates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

The meeting, which will involve Saudi Arabia's top authorities and Turkish and Pakistani defence chiefs, aims to discuss ways to bolster Saudi Arabia's defence against the Houthis. The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group at war with the Saudi-led coalition, have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia, targeting key locations including Taif, Yanbu, and the capital Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has intercepted several ballistic missiles aimed at these areas, demonstrating the severity of the threat.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, was not specifically created to counter the Houthis, but rather to address broader regional security concerns. These include the expansion of Iran's influence, tensions with Israel, and threats to the territorial integrity of the three countries. Turkey, the second-largest military power in NATO, is set to play a significant role in the meeting, with its Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu traveling to Saudi Arabia.

The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the pact, took place in Istanbul on August 31. During this meeting, it was agreed to set up a secretariat in Saudi Arabia and strengthen military cooperation among the three nations. While there is no confirmation of whether Turkey or Pakistan will join Saudi Arabia's combat forces against the Houthis, the pact's formation marks its first major test in the face of these intensified attacks.