Turkiye's parliament ratifies Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
Lawmakers approved the 16-article agreement, which includes a collective defence clause modelled on NATO's Article 5, by 279 votes to 119.
At a glance
- Turkiye's parliament ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan by 279 votes to 119.
- The 16-article pact includes a collective defence clause similar to NATO's Article 5.
- Turkiye says ratification does not mean it will enter into conflict with Yemen's Houthis.
Turkiye's parliament ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Thursday, approving a 16-article pact that includes a collective defence clause committing NATO's second-largest military to assist the group if a member is attacked.
The vote followed two days of debate. 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, the Anadolu news agency reported. When lawmakers returned, they debated the remaining articles. The agreement ultimately passed with 279 votes in favour and 119 against, with 398 of the chamber's 592 lawmakers taking part.
What the pact says
Under Article 1, the signatories are to use "all necessary means" to eliminate threats to one another's territorial integrity, and the article can be invoked in the event of an attack on any member state.
Article 2 sets out what follows: "In the event one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the parties shall immediately provide assistance to the party under attack, utilising the full range of mutual assistance measures available to them."
That clause mirrors Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, under which an attack on one NATO member is treated as an attack on all. Because Turkiye belongs to both alliances, critics have questioned whether its government could face a conflict of interest in allocating military resources. Turkish officials have dismissed those concerns as unfounded.
Other articles cover increased defence industry cooperation and military coordination, including joint training, technological innovation and the sharing of logistics and intelligence. The agreement commits member states for 10 years, after which they may withdraw, and allows other countries to join with the approval of existing members. Syria's government has already expressed interest.
Deployment not automatic
Ratification does not guarantee that Turkish troops will be sent to Saudi Arabia amid the Houthi attacks. Experts say any deployment would require other legislative processes as well. Defence Minister Yasar Guler said in October that the scope of potential support for Saudi Arabia would be determined after ratification, and Turkish media quoted him as saying: "We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis." Turkish support, he said, "would be to strengthen deterrence".
Turkiye signed the agreement in August and sent it to parliament last month. Riyadh continues to face attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, which have escalated in recent months, including a series of deadly strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Tensions had eased somewhat after a 2022 ceasefire. On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a drone in the Medina region; Riyadh has repeatedly accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca and Medina, an accusation the group systematically rejects.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- What is the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?
- A 16-article defence pact signed by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August. It contains a collective defence clause under which members assist each other if one is attacked.
- Will Turkiye send troops to Saudi Arabia?
- Not automatically. Experts say any deployment would need further legislative steps, and Defence Minister Yasar Guler has said Turkiye does not foresee entering a conflict with the Houthis.
- Which countries are part of the Mecca pact?
- Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed it. Other countries may join with existing members' approval, and Syria's government has expressed interest.
