# Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Form Mutual Defense Pact

> Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey activate mutual defense pact to counter Houthi attacks.
- Title: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Form Mutual Defense Pact
- Summary: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey activate mutual defense pact to counter Houthi attacks. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey formed a mutual defense pact…
- Keywords: pakistan, saudi arabia, turkey, mecca joint defense agreement, houthi, yemen, persian gulf, military deployment, holy cities, mecca, medina, Saudi
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/06/saudi-arabia-turkey-pakistan-mutual-defense-pact-houthi-yemen-attacks
- Author: Alexandra Sharp
- Published: 2026-10-07T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pakistan, saudi arabia, turkey, mecca joint defense agreement, houthi, yemen, persian gulf, military deployment, holy cities, mecca, medina
## Mutual Defense Pact Activated
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey triggered a mutual defense pact on Monday in response to repeated Houthi strikes on Saudi infrastructure.
## Pact Details
The pact includes rapid deployment of Pakistani and Turkish troops to Saudi Arabia, marking the first activation since its August signing.
## Houthi Attacks
Houthi forces have targeted Saudi holy cities, including Mecca and Medina, and attacked King Khalid International Airport and Petro Rabigh refinery.
## Military Strength
The pact members have nearly 1.4 million active troops, 3,400 aircraft, 6,000 tanks, and over 340 naval assets.
## Pakistan's Role
Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority nation, with Turkey having NATO’s second-largest armed forces.
## Saudi Response
Saudi-led coalition forces launched a counteroffensive to retake coastal territory in Yemen after Houthi attacks.
## Deployment Plan
The pact states that members will move immediately to practical implementation of defense commitments and rapid military deployment.
## Pakistani Commitment
Pakistan confirmed aiding Riyadh in reconnaissance but will not release deployment details.
## Turkish Ratification
The Turkish parliament has yet to ratify the mutual defense pact.
## Houthi Reaction
The Houthis have yet to comment on the activation of the mutual defense pact.
## Strategic Impact
The threat of joint military involvement could dramatically shift the Saudi-Houthi conflict dynamics.
## Pact Activation Timing
The pact was activated less than one month after Houthi rebels began launching attacks on Saudi Arabia.
## Houthi Territory Control
Houthi forces seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
## Houthi Attacks on Infrastructure
Houthi forces targeted critical energy infrastructure and Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
## Key takeaway

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey formed a mutual defense pact after Houthi strikes on Saudi infrastructure, with rapid military deployment planned.