Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye mull meeting of military chiefs to assist Riyadh under Makkah defence pact: FO

On September 18, 2023, the foreign offices of Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia held discussions to potentially convene a gathering of the military chiefs of the three countries. The Foreign Office (FO) reported on these talks, which occurred on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, and the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, deliberated on plans to assist Riyadh under the Makkah Defence Alliance (MJDA).

The MJDA, signed on August 7, stipulates that an attack against one party is considered an attack against all. The foreign ministers strongly condemned the recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and praised the Saudi armed forces' vigilance in defending the kingdom's security. They reaffirmed the kingdom's right to take such measures as it deems appropriate, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The three countries reviewed progress in establishing the general secretariat and committees, as well as preparations for the Makkah agreement's work commencement. Pakistan, the host nation, was chosen as the first secretary general.

The meeting took place amid the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and Yemeni government, with the Houthis declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom and targeting its ships in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis earlier in the week. In response, Pakistan has pledged to defend Saudi Arabia "to any extent," while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the kingdom in safeguarding its sovereignty and security.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman denounced the Houthis as a "terrorist militia" in a rare statement, condemning their attempt to target Makkah as a provocation to Muslims worldwide.