Turkey and Pakistan to Deploy Troops to Saudi Arabia Under Defense Pact

Turkey and Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia under a new mutual defense agreement, the three nations announced Monday. The move comes amid escalating attacks from Yemen’s Houthis, who have targeted key Saudi cities, including the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. In August, the trio signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, pledging mutual aid in case of an attack. An emergency meeting in Riyadh reaffirmed their commitment, though the specific role of the deploying forces remains unclear.

The joint statement emphasized the trio’s rejection of any threats to Saudi Arabia’s security. They agreed to immediately implement the defense pact, ensuring rapid troop deployment. The announcement follows months of Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, oil facilities, and ships, escalating since Yemen’s civil war intensified in July. In September, the Houthis launched a major offensive, seizing territory from Yemen’s government, which has since countered with Saudi support.