{
  "id": 12153864,
  "title": "Makkah pact countries to meet in Riyadh with Houthi attacks on agenda",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/makkah-pact-countries-to-meet-in-riyadh-with-houthi-attacks-on-agenda-12153864",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T12:15:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/05/makkah-pact-countries-to-meet-in-riyadh-with-houthi-attacks-on-agenda/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ministers and military leaders from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to convene in Riyadh on Monday for discussions concerning the Makkah defence pact. The strategic political and defence committee of the pact will host representatives from the foreign ministries of Turkey and Pakistan, along with their respective army chiefs, according to statements from the Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministries. While Saudi officials have not yet confirmed their participation, Pakistan's statement indicated that officials from the kingdom would meet with their counterparts in the capital.\n\nThe talks are taking place amidst an ongoing conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel, as well as continuous Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly targeting energy infrastructure. An official from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry briefed on the talks confirmed that the focus of the meeting would be the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The meeting, which is expected to commence in the late afternoon on Monday, will also discuss the progress made in institutionalising the alliance, following the committee's inaugural meeting in Istanbul in August.\n\nPakistan's involvement in the talks highlights the nation's commitment to contributing to regional peace and stability. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared images from Madinah, where he would travel to Riyadh for the meeting. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey in August, aimed to enhance regional security amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The kingdom supports the internationally recognized government in Yemen, which is engaged in a battle against the Houthi rebel group.\n\nThe Houthis recently announced the commencement of military operations to reclaim territories held by the rebel group, including the capture of the Bab Al Mandeb strait and approximately 150km of Red Sea coastline. This move has significantly increased the group's influence over a crucial international shipping route. The specifics of the Makkah pact have not been made public, but a joint statement from the three countries at the time of its signing mentioned the intended strengthening of collective deterrence, similar to NATO's Article 5 on collective defense. Nuclear-armed Pakistan and major oil exporter Saudi Arabia already have a bilateral defence agreement, but together, the three countries form a more formidable alliance. Turkey, a NATO member, is looking for opportunities for military cooperation as its domestic defence manufacturing industry expands.",
  "summary": "Ministers and military commanders from Turkey , Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were to gather in Riyadh on Monday for talks on the Makkah defence pact , Ankara and Islamabad said. Defence and foreign ministers as well as army chiefs from Turkey and Pakistan will attend a meeting of the Makkah pact’s strategic political and defence committee, statements from the Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministries…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Makkah pact countries to meet in Riyadh with Houthi attacks on agenda",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/makkah-pact-countries-to-meet-in-riyadh-with-houthi-attacks-on-agenda",
        "published": "2026-10-05T12:15:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia has right to defend itself from Houthi attacks, says Rubio",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/saudi-arabia-has-right-to-defend-itself-from-houthi-attacks-says-rubio",
        "published": "2026-10-05T14:34:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}