Saudi Arabia is hosting an urgent military meeting bringing together the chiefs of staff of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan as the region faces an intensifying escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that Chief of General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu is traveling to Saudi Arabia on September 25 to attend the chiefs of staff meeting linked to the Mecca Defense Agreement.
The military move follows diplomatic consultations among the three countries, including meetings between Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly sessions in New York.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said the chiefs of staff would hold an urgent meeting to discuss ways to support the kingdom under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. The announcement followed a meeting in New York between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar; it did not say when the meeting would take place or what form of support could be considered. Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is also expected in Riyadh. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7.
During the meeting, the chiefs of staff are expected to discuss rapidly developing security developments in the region, military cooperation among the three countries and possible steps under joint defense mechanisms.
These developments come as Houthi attacks targeting sites inside Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones continue, prompting Riyadh to strengthen its defensive measures and coordination with its partners.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have intensified their political and military contacts in recent months as part of efforts to strengthen defense cooperation and coordination among their armed forces.
The meeting in Saudi Arabia is expected to mark a new stage in this coordination, with discussions focusing on current security threats and military and defense cooperation mechanisms between Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad.
