U.S. President Donald Trump has welcomed the decision by Türkiye and Pakistan to provide military support to Saudi Arabia under the newly activated Makkah Alliance for Defense.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump was asked about the agreement between Türkiye and Pakistan to send military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
“I think they want to help Saudi Arabia, and I think that’s great,” Trump said.
The comments come after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye moved to implement the collective-defense commitments of their Makkah defense arrangement. At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, the three countries agreed to move immediately toward practical implementation and to take measures aimed at ensuring the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
The alliance was established as a collective-security framework between the three countries. Its activation followed a series of attacks and security threats involving Saudi Arabia, including attacks attributed to Yemen's Houthi movement.
The joint statement issued after the Riyadh meeting said the countries would provide agreed military forces and capabilities in accordance with approved arrangements and their respective national legislation. The three governments also reaffirmed that the security of each member was linked to the collective security of the alliance.
Pakistan has already deployed additional forces to Saudi Arabia under the defense arrangement, although details about the size and operational role of those forces have not been publicly disclosed. Reuters reported that the deployment came without a parliamentary vote, highlighting questions surrounding Pakistan's decision-making process on the deployment.
Türkiye's position is somewhat different. Ankara has been providing defensive and technical assistance to Saudi Arabia, including military equipment, intelligence support and other capabilities. However, formal Turkish troop deployment under the pact requires parliamentary ratification.
The ruling AK Party in Türkiye has said the defense agreement is expected to be submitted to parliament, potentially clearing the way for further Turkish participation. Turkish officials have described the arrangement as a regional security initiative rather than an alternative to NATO.
The alliance comes as Saudi Arabia confronts continuing threats linked to the conflict in Yemen. Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi territory and strategic infrastructure, increasing pressure on Riyadh to strengthen its air-defense and military capabilities.
The Makkah Alliance's collective-defense mechanism treats the security of its three members as interconnected. The latest measures therefore represent a significant step from a political agreement toward practical military coordination.
For Washington, Trump's comments signal support for regional partners taking a greater role in Saudi security. His remarks also come as the United States continues to monitor wider security developments across the Middle East.
The precise scope of any future Turkish and Pakistani deployment remains dependent on operational arrangements and national legal procedures. Türkiye's parliamentary process will be particularly important in determining whether Ankara moves beyond its current technical and defensive support.
For now, the three countries are moving toward greater military coordination, while Saudi Arabia remains at the center of the alliance's immediate security concerns.
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