Turkiye's parliament ratifies Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
Turkiye's parliament ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Thursday. The vote was 279 in favour and 119 against.
- Turkiye's parliament ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on Thursday.
- The vote was 279 to 119, with 398 of 592 lawmakers taking part.
- The pact includes a collective defence clause covering all members.
Turkiye's parliament ratified a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported. The agreement is known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Arab News also reported the approval and said it clears the way for military support to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks from Yemen.
The agreement passed with 279 votes in favour and 119 against. Of the chamber's 592 lawmakers, 398 took part in the vote. Article 1 of the bill approving the pact was adopted on Wednesday, after which Deputy Parliament Speaker Celal Adan adjourned the session until Thursday afternoon.
Turkiye first signed the pact in August and sent it to parliament for ratification last month. According to a document submitted to parliament, it contains 16 articles. Article 1 says the signatories shall use all necessary means to eliminate threats to one another's territorial integrity, and it can be invoked if any member state is attacked. Article 2 requires parties under armed attack to receive immediate assistance from the others.
Other articles commit the members to joint training, technological innovation, and sharing logistics and intelligence. The draft binds members to the pact for 10 years, after which they may withdraw. Other countries may join with the approval of existing members, and Al Jazeera reported that Syria's government has expressed interest.
Critics have raised questions about a possible conflict of interest, since Turkiye is a member of both NATO and the Mecca pact. Turkish officials have dismissed those concerns as unfounded. Experts told Al Jazeera that any Turkish troop deployment to Saudi Arabia would require other legislative processes.
Turkiye's Defence Minister Yasar Guler said in October that the scope of potential support for Saudi Arabia would be determined after ratification. He also said: "We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis."
The Houthis have escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent months, including deadly strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to Al Jazeera. On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone in the Medina region. Riyadh has several times accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca and Medina, which the Houthis reject.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 5 November that the Saudi-led coalition said its air defence destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward the Medina region. On 2 November it reported the coalition said it downed a missile aimed at southern Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters
Pakistan is a party to the pact, so its defence commitments and regional role are directly tied to the agreement. Turkiye's ratification adds another member whose military would be committed to aid the group if attacked. The pact's collective defence clause applies to all members, including Pakistan.
