Pakistan, Saudi, Turkiye Military Chiefs Vow Immediate Defense Cooperation

Military chiefs from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye met in Riyadh on Friday, vowing to immediately translate their commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into effective military cooperation.

The meeting included Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and the chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Participants discussed measures to advance cooperation, including enhanced intelligence sharing, military coordination, and integration of capabilities. They reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia, strongly resenting attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah and civilian and economic infrastructure.

The meeting indicates the agreement is transitioning to an operational phase, though statements do not suggest joint strikes or ground operations against Yemen's Ansar Allah, also known as Houthis. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz affirmed continued joint efforts with Pakistan's army chief to confront attacks. The UN Security Council condemned escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Britain announced it would deploy an RAF Voyager military plane to help refuel Saudi fighter jets, a move described by former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram MBE as first and foremost a reset with Donald Trump. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had twice asked US President Donald Trump to attack the Houthis, but Trump refused, later halting a planned strike.