Would Houthi attacks trigger the Mecca Pact?
An analysis of recent Houthi attacks concludes that Pakistan and Turkiye would be ready to respond if Saudi Arabia formally requested it, though their direct military involvement in the Yemen war is seen as unlikely.
Recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement have revived questions about whether the so-called Mecca Pact — an agreement providing for mutual support among Muslim-majority states on security matters — could be activated in the region.
According to the published analysis, both Pakistan and Turkiye are, in principle, prepared to respond if Saudi Arabia were to make a formal request. The two countries are seen as potential partners that could provide support should Riyadh officially seek help in response to the security situation created by Houthi activity.
However, the analysis notes that even in such a scenario, direct involvement by either country in the fighting in Yemen is not expected. In other words, any support would likely be limited to other forms of cooperation rather than the deployment of Pakistani or Turkish armed forces directly into the Yemen conflict.
The question of a possible activation of the Mecca Pact therefore remains largely theoretical, contingent on whether Saudi Arabia decides to request assistance and on what form that assistance might take. So far, there is no indication that such a formal request has been made.
