Military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye held high-level talks in Riyadh on Friday to discuss regional security threats and steps to implement the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The meeting came amid increased attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including reported attacks affecting civilian and economic infrastructure and the wider region.
The meeting brought together the chiefs of defence forces and chiefs of general staff from the three countries. The military leaders reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia and condemned attacks targeting Makkah as well as civilian and economic facilities. They also praised the Saudi armed forces for their role in protecting the kingdom and its population.
A key focus of the Riyadh meeting was strengthening practical military cooperation between the three countries. The participants discussed enhanced intelligence sharing, closer military coordination and greater integration of defence capabilities. These measures are intended to strengthen deterrence and improve collective defence arrangements under the agreement.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three. It also calls for stronger defence cooperation among the participating states.
Friday’s meeting marked a further step in putting those commitments into practical military cooperation. The three sides reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence and said they would work to strengthen cooperation between their armed forces.
The talks were held as Saudi Arabia faces increased security threats from attacks linked to the conflict in Yemen. Earlier this month, Türkiye said it was prepared to help meet Saudi Arabia’s military needs under the newly signed defence agreement. Pakistan has also reiterated its commitment to the pact while emphasising its broader diplomatic position in the region.
The three countries have maintained longstanding military and defence ties. The latest meeting is expected to provide a framework for closer coordination in areas including intelligence, military planning and defence capabilities.
The Makkah agreement does not publicly specify the exact military response that would follow every potential attack on a member state. However, its collective-defence provision establishes that an armed attack on one member is to be regarded as an attack on all three, while the latest Riyadh meeting focused on translating that commitment into closer operational cooperation.
Also read: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Türkiye Sign Historic Makkah Defence Agreement
