[REVISION HISTORY]

Makkah Defense Alliance: Institutionalization and Yemen Tuss

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2026-09-25 01:34 UTC → 2026-09-25 15:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the formalization of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7, 2026, the Makkah Defense Alliance has begun institutionalizing its operations. On August 30, the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee was held in Istanbul, involving foreign ministers, defense ministers, and chiefs of general staff from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. This meeting focused on enhancing military interoperability and defense industry cooperation, resulting in the decision to establish a permanent secretariat in Riyadh led by a Pakistani official for a three-year term. The alliance has officially adopted the name ‘Makkah Defense Alliance’ and includes a collective defense clause, stipulating that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all. By late September, the alliance’s leadership structure solidified with the appointment of retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary-general. Mahmood, a recipient of the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), will lead the General Secretariat in Riyadh for an initial three-year term, with the position intended to rotate among the three member nations. During a ministerial meeting in New York, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the establishment of committees and working groups. The ministers condemned attacks on Mecca and Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure, affirming Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. They also announced plans for an urgent meeting of the nations' chiefs of staff to discuss supporting the Kingdom. Defending the pact against skepticism, Fidan argued that the alliance’s value lies in its role as a deterrent, comparing its function to NATO.

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