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News 6 of 19

Saudi Arabia's Three Defence Pacts (2025-26) with US, Pakistan, Turkey Remain Dormant Amid Houthi Escalation

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
17 Sept 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:$100/barrelNov 18, 2025Sept 17, 2025Aug 7, 2026Mocha port capturedHouthi territorial gains
Bodies:Saudi ArabiaPakistanTurkeyUnited StatesHouthisIran
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Houthis captured Mocha port and control much of Yemen's Red Sea coast, disrupting Saudi oil flow and pushing global oil prices above $100/barrel.

2.Saudi Arabia has defence pacts with US (Nov 2025), Pakistan (Sept 2025), and both plus Turkey (Makkah Agreement, Aug 2026), but none have sent combat forces.

3.Examiner angle: Understand the gap between defence treaty obligations and real-world activation; Iran's proxy warfare; and the economic and security costs of escalation.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Despite signing three major defence pacts (US, Pakistan, Turkey) between 2025-26, Saudi Arabia has not activated them against the Houthis, who recently captured the strategic port of Mocha and threaten Red Sea oil routes. The article dissects why allies have not intervened militarily, highlighting treaty limitations, Iran's role, and geopolitical calculations.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

US-Saudi Strategic Defense AgreementSigned Nov 18, 2025
Pakistan-Saudi SMDASigned Sept 17, 2025
Makkah Joint Defence AgreementSigned Aug 7, 2026 (Saudi, Pakistan, Turkey)
Global Oil Price (Sept 2026)$100/barrel (up from $70 in June 2026)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›US-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement: Signed Nov 18, 2025
  • ›Pakistan-Saudi SMDA: Signed Sept 17, 2025
  • ›Target this Data: Dates of three defence pacts: US-Saudi (Nov 18, 2025), Pakistan-Saudi SMDA (Sept 17, 2025), Makkah Agreement (Aug 7, 2026).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, US – the signatories of the defence pacts.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Makkah Joint Defence Agreement – an armed attack on one is an attack on all three.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which country/countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in August 2026?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Houthi conflict and Saudi defence pacts:

1. The Houthis captured the Red Sea port of Mocha in September 2026.

2. The US-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement was signed in September 2025.

3. Pakistan has sent combat forces to Yemen under the SMDA.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What was the global oil price in September 2026 according to the article?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

Why has the US not intervened militarily against the Houthis despite its defence pact with Saudi Arabia?

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