Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have taken steps toward closer military cooperation following a high-level meeting of their military chiefs in Riyadh.
The meeting was held on Friday as Saudi Arabia faced increased security concerns linked to missile and drone attacks originating from Yemen. Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the meeting alongside the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between their armed forces. Key areas included intelligence sharing, military coordination and the integration of defence capabilities.
The discussions took place under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in Makkah on August 7. The agreement provides a framework for collective defence cooperation among the three countries.
The military chiefs also reviewed the security situation facing Saudi Arabia and discussed threats to the kingdom, including attacks affecting civilian and economic infrastructure. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The meeting represents a move from broad political commitments toward more practical military coordination. Potential areas of cooperation could include intelligence sharing, early-warning systems, technical assistance and closer coordination between defence institutions.
However, the statements released following the meeting did not announce joint strikes or ground operations in Yemen. The immediate focus described by the participants remained on strengthening Saudi Arabia’s defensive capabilities and improving coordination among the three countries.
The development comes as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye continue to build the institutional structure of the Makkah defence agreement. The three countries have already agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Riyadh, with Pakistan providing the alliance’s first secretary general for a three-year term.
The next steps will depend on the security situation in the region and the requirements identified by Saudi Arabia and its partners. For now, the Riyadh meeting signals increased defence coordination among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye without announcing a broader military operation in Yemen.