Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey trigger their mutual defence pact
The Financial Times reported on 6 October that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey had triggered their mutual defence pact, and Foreign Policy said they did so on Monday after repeated Houthi strikes on Saudi infrastructure. The joint statement cited recent attacks on Mecca and Medina and did not name the Houthis. The agreement, signed in Mecca on 7 August, says an attack on one member is an attack on all. Measures appear to include rapid deployment of Pakistani and Turkish troops, though Pakistan will not release details.
It is the first use of the pact and widens a Gulf conflict that already includes the Iran war and Houthi attacks.
More risk to shipping and oil prices, which feed UK energy bills.
The Atlantic Council doubts the pact will work like NATO's Article 5. Watch what actually arrives in Saudi Arabia.
DailyDrop U.K. edition No. 2 · Morning · TUE., OCT. 6, 2026