Full Breakdown
Mecca Defence Pact Committee to Meet in Riyadh Amid Rising Houthi Threats
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Meeting Announcement and Participants
On Oct 4, the Turkish foreign ministry confirmed that a strategic political and defence committee of the Mecca defence pact will convene in Riyadh on Monday. Attendees will include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Güler, and Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroglu, alongside their Pakistani and Saudi counterparts. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has also indicated that the full committee will meet “very soon” in Riyadh, describing the gathering as a response to recent Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
Background: The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement
The trilateral alliance was signed in August by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The pact obliges signatories to treat an attack on any member as an attack on all. Both Turkish and Pakistani officials have highlighted the agreement’s role in fostering collective security and deterring regional crises. Dar noted that more than six additional countries have expressed interest in joining the defensive framework.
Recent Houthi Offensive
Since an offensive launched on Sep 3 in Yemen’s Taiz and Hodeida provinces, Houthi forces have seized the city of Mokha and advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, challenging the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The Houthis have also claimed attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities and military sites, while Saudi authorities allege attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The insurgent group denies any assault on Mecca.
Official Statements & Responses
Pakistan’s foreign minister reported that Iran had suggested a political engagement with the Houthis following their attacks, a proposal he described as being discussed by the committee. The leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced a major military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis on the same day the Turkish statement was released.
Implications for Regional Security
Analysts view the upcoming committee session as a test of the Mecca pact’s operational readiness, especially as the coalition seeks to coordinate a joint response to Houthi aggression and safeguard navigation routes in the Red Sea. The meeting’s outcomes could shape diplomatic efforts to resolve the Yemen conflict and influence the broader balance of power in the Middle East.