A new test of a recently forged defence alliance is unfolding in the Middle East, as the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye prepare for urgent talks amid a fresh escalation of fighting in Yemen.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening the implementation of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by the three countries in August.
Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three members is treated as an attack against all, creating a framework for closer collective defence and military cooperation.
The planned military-level meeting follows discussions between the foreign ministers of the three countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The talks come as Saudi Arabia faces an intensifying campaign of attacks from Yemen’s Houthi movement, including strikes targeting Saudi territory and vital economic infrastructure.
The escalation is also placing the newly established defence arrangement under its first major regional test.
Türkiye has already indicated its readiness to assist Saudi Arabia with military and technical requirements under the agreement, while Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the kingdom’s security. However, reports indicate that neither country has announced a specific combat deployment as part of the current discussions.
The conflict in Yemen has also raised concerns over maritime security, particularly around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and a major route for international trade.
The renewed fighting has intensified pressure on Saudi Arabia, while disruptions around key waterways in the region continue to pose risks to energy supplies and global shipping.
For Riyadh, Islamabad and Ankara, the upcoming meeting could therefore become an important step in determining how the new defence pact operates in response to an escalating regional crisis.
The three governments are expected to weigh defence cooperation and the institutional mechanisms of the agreement, while the extent of any direct military involvement in Yemen remains unclear.
