Mecca Pact activated as Pakistan, Turkey move towards troop deployment in Saudi Arabia

The Mecca Pact has been activated, with Pakistan and Turkey agreeing to move towards the rapid deployment of troops and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia amid continuing regional security concerns.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defense Committee in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey agreed to immediately begin implementing their collective defence commitments.

The activation of the pact is aimed at strengthening military preparedness, coordination and joint response capabilities among the three countries. The agreement comes against the backdrop of heightened security tensions in the region and growing concerns over potential threats to Saudi Arabia and its strategic interests.

As part of the new arrangement, Pakistan's Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood (Retd.) has been appointed as the first Secretary-General of the pact for a three-year term.

The appointment is expected to provide an institutional framework for coordinating the defence commitments of the three participating countries and facilitating closer military cooperation.

The pact is also expected to focus on improving operational coordination and ensuring that military resources can be mobilised more rapidly if required. The move signals deeper defence cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey at a time when regional security dynamics remain volatile.

The activation of the Mecca Pact could further strengthen strategic ties among the three countries, particularly in areas including military preparedness, defence coordination and collective security.

Further details on the scale and timing of any troop deployments, as well as the military capabilities that could be moved to Saudi Arabia, are expected to emerge as implementation of the agreement progresses.