RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to activate their collective defence pact and arrange the rapid deployment of military forces to the kingdom, as attacks on Saudi targets and regional shipping heighten concerns over global oil supplies.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the Makkah Alliance for Defence’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh.
The three countries condemned attempted attacks on Makkah and Madinah, Islam’s two holiest cities, and continuing strikes against Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities, according to a joint statement.
“The Committee decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments,” it said late Monday.
The statement said members would provide agreed military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
It gave no troop numbers or deployment timetable and did not say forces had already arrived.
The move comes as attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Saudi targets and threats to Red Sea shipping add to uncertainty over energy supplies already disrupted by the wider Middle East conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which carries crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, was shut after a drone attack in September. The disruption curtailed exports and led to the cancellation of some cargoes.
Brent crude settled at $108.75 a barrel on September 15, up 2.9%, as suspended Yanbu loadings and fresh Houthi attacks intensified supply concerns.
The foreign media subsequently attributed the pipeline strike to Iraqi militias.
Saudi Arabia resumed Yanbu loadings after restarting the pipeline, although initial throughput remained below its previous level.
The Houthi campaign has added to the risk premium in oil prices — the additional amount buyers pay because of possible supply interruptions.
Threats to vessels also increase freight and insurance costs, raising the cost of delivering crude and refined fuels.
Oil prices
Prices have nevertheless eased as supplies recover.
Oil fell about $2 on Monday as Middle Eastern exports increased and the Group of Seven pledged additional supplies, despite persistent concerns over attacks on infrastructure and shipping.
The defence committee appointed retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the alliance’s first secretary general for a three-year term.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, commits Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye to treating an armed attack on any member as an attack on all three.
Their military chiefs met in Riyadh on September 25 and condemned Houthi attacks against the kingdom.