Turkiye, Pakistan to deploy forces to Saudi as Yemen fighting grows

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman announced on Monday that the Makkah Alliance for Defense had decided to activate collective deterrence measures in response to recent attacks. Speaking on X, Prince Khalid emphasized the solidarity and unity of the alliance in confronting the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and its holy sites. The committee agreed to deploy collective deterrence measures within the framework of the alliance in response to the assaults and all those responsible, he added.

The announcement came after an emergency meeting of the alliance's Strategic Political and Defense Committee held in Riyadh, which brought together representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reported that the three nations discussed the type of support that could be provided to Saudi Arabia's defense efforts. He added that Türkiye shared its perspective during the talks and commended Saudi Arabia for taking a "very constructive approach."

While the meeting addressed various aspects of the alliance's institutional structure, including its secretariat and military, operational, and technical matters, it also focused on the framework for military support. The committee appointed retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood as the alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term.