Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan announced plans for an urgent meeting of their armed forces chiefs of staff to discuss ways to support the kingdom in confronting Houthi attacks, based on the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defence, which stipulates that any armed attack on one of the three countries is considered an attack on all of them.
New York meeting paves the way for chiefs of staff talks
The announcement followed a meeting held on Thursday by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the headquarters of Saudi Arabia's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.
The ministers discussed arrangements under way for the chiefs of staff meeting, as well as progress in establishing the secretariat of the Mecca Agreement and its committees and working groups, along with preparations for these bodies to begin work coordinating defence cooperation among the three countries.
Condemnation of attacks and affirmation of Saudi Arabia's right to self-defence
The ministers condemned the attacks targeting Mecca and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, and praised the vigilance of the Saudi armed forces and their ability to protect the kingdom's security. They also affirmed Riyadh's right to take whatever measures it considers appropriate to defend its security, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The trilateral move comes after an escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis said they launched dozens of missiles and drones towards targets inside the kingdom on Thursday, while Saudi authorities said they had intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by the group's fighters. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts covering areas including Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu, which is home to Saudi Arabia's main oil port on the Red Sea.
Riyadh announced on 19 September that it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards the capital, with no casualties or damage reported. Saudi Arabia also said the Houthis had attempted to target civilian infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Bish and Farasan, while the group claimed it had targeted what it described as sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
The Mecca Agreement and defence cooperation objectives
The group provided no evidence to support these claims. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defence on 7 August 2026, during a summit hosted by Mecca and attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
The agreement aims to strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression and develop various aspects of defence cooperation among the three countries. It stipulates that any armed attack targeting one of the signatories is considered an attack on all three countries collectively. The foreign ministers also discussed regional developments, stressing the importance of respecting international law and the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and ensuring the security and freedom of maritime navigation.
They reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to reduce tensions and support peaceful solutions to the ongoing crises in the region.
