Türkiye Pakistan to Deploy Troops to Saudi Arabia Under Defense Pact

Türkiye and Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia under a new defense pact, following an emergency meeting in Riyadh. The three countries, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August, pledging mutual assistance in case of attacks. The decision comes as Saudi Arabia faces increasing attacks from Yemen’s Houthi movement, which has targeted cities, oil infrastructure, and maritime interests.

The joint statement from the three nations condemned threats to Saudi Arabia’s security, particularly recent incidents near the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. While the statement did not name the Houthis, it emphasized the need for rapid deployment of military forces to Saudi Arabia. However, the number of troops and their specific missions were not detailed.

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a civil war in Yemen, which escalated in July. The Houthis launched a major offensive in September, capturing significant territory from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. In response, Saudi-backed forces initiated a counteroffensive on Monday to retake Houthi-controlled areas.