Turkey and Egypt evaluate military cooperation under the Mecca Alliance

Following a meeting of member states in Riyadh on October 5, 2026, Turkey is considering the deployment of military forces to Saudi Arabia under the "Mecca Alliance." According to the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, these troops would focus on training, consulting, and deterrence rather than direct combat against Houthi forces in Yemen, following a model similar to Turkey's existing presence in Qatar.

Egypt is also signaling a shift in its security posture, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stating that Cairo is seriously evaluating potential membership in the Mecca Alliance. Egypt has pledged full support to Saudi Arabia in response to recent Houthi escalations.

The Mecca Alliance, formally signed on August 7 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, includes a collective defense clause stipulating that an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Following the October 5 Riyadh summit, the alliance members decided to move toward rapid military deployment to assist Saudi Arabia, marking a significant evolution in the regional security landscape.