As Pakistan gets cagey on Houthi fight, MBS turns to Trump, gets snubbed

Saudi Arabia seems to have learnt an uncomfortable lesson about its defence partners, just as Iran-backed Houthis pummelled its military and oil facilities. As Pakistan appeared to take a step back from its military threat to the Houthis, blinking on the much-touted Mecca defence pact, Saudi Arabia turned to the US for help. But President Donald Trump dashed all hopes, declining any direct US military action. The developments have again laid bare the unpredictable nature of Pakistan and the US.

Saudi's SOS to Trump came as the conflict escalated between the Houthis and Riyadh-backed Yemeni forces. On Thursday, the militants seized the key Red Sea port of Mokha, bringing them closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It has threatened another vital shipping route, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains in a state of flux amid the US-Iran conflict.TRUMP TURNS DOWN HELP AGAINST HOUTHIS

According to a report in Axios, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) called Trump twice on Thursday to urge him to launch strikes against the Houthis. He received a flat "no" from the eccentric President. US officials said Trump had no plans to intervene directly for now.

In his first call, MBS briefed Trump on the deteriorating situation as Houthi forces moved towards the coastal city of Mokha. Hours later, MBS dialled Trump again, urging him to order US strikes against the Houthis as Saudi-backed forces retreated.

US officials told Axios that Trump was wary of opening another military front as the conflict with Iran dragged on despite multiple rounds of negotiations and a ceasefire. However, the US has assured the Kingdom of intelligence inputs on the Houthis.

A senior Trump administration official said the US was keen on leaving the broader fight against Iran's proxies to its regional partners. "Trump's directive is to keep American forces focused on Iran and safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz," the official told Axios.

The snub by Trump came a day after Pakistan appeared to retreat from its much-touted military threat against the Houthis.PAKISTAN WALKS BACK, MECCA PACT UNRAVELS

Earlier this week, it seemed like Pakistan would come to Saudi Arabia's aid. On Wednesday, Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif warned that the Mecca pact would become "operational" if the Yemen conflict spilt into Saudi Arabia. He strongly asserted that Pakistan was "bound by the terms and conditions of this pact".

Last month, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The agreement provides that an armed attack against one member would be considered an attack against all three.

Asif's threat came as Houthis launched dozens of drones and missiles towards southern Saudi Arabia, injuring over 70 civilians and causing fires at several oil facilities.

However, within 24 hours, Pakistan showed its true colours.

The Pakistan foreign ministry, on Thursday, underlined that the Mecca pact was just a "defensive alliance" and rejected speculation that Islamabad was considering military strikes against the Houthis.

"There is no such thing under discussion right now. When the time comes, we will act under the agreement," spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at his weekly media briefing.

"The Mecca defence agreement is a defensive alliance focused on deterrence," he further said.

Khan, however, made it a point to underscore that Pakistani forces were already deployed in Saudi Arabia "for training and logistical purposes".

The essential volte-face by Pakistan has been mocked by global experts and scholars.

"Pakistan essentially says the Mecca pact of mutual defence doesn't cover a pre-existing condition, so it only covers wars started after the pact was signed," tweeted foreign affairs expert and author Hussain Abdul-Hussain.

This leaves Saudi Arabia with Turkey, the other member of the Makkah pact.

However, Riyadh is unlikely to seek military help from Turkey as it has long sought greater influence over the Bab al-Mandab Strait. A confrontation with the Houthis may only give Turkey a justification to expand its naval presence and influence around the strait.

The back-to-back developments have resulted in an uncomfortable reality for MBS.

The ally (Pakistan) it expected to stand by its side appears to have blinked. On the other hand, the superpower it turned to for help has rejected military help. And it is wary of seeking help from Turkey, which may have its own strategic ambitions. It is a Catch-22 situation for Saudi Arabia.- EndsPublished By: Abhishek DePublished On: Sep 11, 2026 14:34 IST