Pakistan Approves Mecca Defence Pact With Turkey, Saudi Arabia

Pakistan's government completed its ratification of a three-way security agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday, moving the deal forward even as regional tensions remain high.

Foreign Office spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have both finished ratifying the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The pact was signed by all three nations on 7 August. However, Turkey is still in the process of obtaining domestic approval, which means the agreement is not yet fully ratified by every signatory. Khan stated, "Matters related to the agreement, its ratification, and operationalisation remain under discussion by the three parties."

The agreement outlines a collective response to any external armed attack directed at one of the three member states. It stipulates that the form and scale of any assistance provided will be determined according to the specific circumstances of the event. Pakistan has characterized the arrangement as strictly defensive and consistent with the UN Charter.

The pact was originally signed in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Efforts to put the agreement into effect accelerated following a meeting on 5 October of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee representing the three countries. That gathering urged member states to fulfil their collective defence commitments and to deploy military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia rapidly, in line with each nation's domestic laws.

The timing of the ratification announcement is significant because Saudi Arabia is currently dealing with security threats in the region. Earlier this week, the kingdom's Civil Defence agency issued warnings regarding possible danger in certain areas, including Abha and Khamis Mushait in the southwest. Authorities subsequently stated that the danger had passed. Although the specific threat was not identified, residents were advised to follow safety instructions and refrain from gathering or filming in affected locations. These alerts occurred alongside missile and drone attacks on the kingdom by Yemen's Houthis. On 21 October, reports indicated that Riyadh's allies were primarily offering defensive assistance as the nation worked to safeguard its infrastructure from additional strikes.

Beyond the immediate situation in Saudi Arabia, other regional actors are also preparing for potential conflict. The Israeli military announced that large-scale drills would take place on Sunday and Monday in the north and center of the country. These exercises will involve the air force alongside units from the Northern and Central Commands, focusing on scenarios involving surprise air and land attacks as well as infiltrations. The military stated the purpose is to verify readiness to defend against attacks on multiple fronts and to prepare for any escalation along Israel's borders.

These preparations coincide with reports that Washington and Tel Aviv are considering renewed military operations against Iran. On Friday, President Trump remarked that the United States might carry out another military operation against Iran as the conflict approaches its eighth month. A report issued this week, citing US officials, indicated that American and Israeli forces have developed plans for new strikes after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Potential targets mentioned in the report include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone capabilities.

While the ratification by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia marks a step toward operationalizing the pact, full implementation depends on Turkey completing its internal procedures. In the interim, the three countries continue to discuss how the agreement will be applied as they navigate the evolving security landscape in the region.