Erdogan Submits 'Mecca Agreement' to Parliament for Ratification

Burhan Din Duran, head of the communications department at the Turkish Presidency, said that submitting the bill ratifying the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense,” signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to parliament constitutes an important step toward consolidating strategic cooperation among the three brotherly nations.

He added, “This strategic partnership aims to enhance collective deterrence, increase joint capabilities in the field of defense, and protect security and stability in our region.”

In a statement posted on his X account, Duran clarified that the “Mecca Agreement,” based on the principle that regional states should assume responsibility for regional issues, embodies a shared will that prioritizes security and solidarity.

He further stated, “We hope that the parliamentary ratification process will benefit our country and our two sister nations, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude in advance to all political parties and parliamentarians who will contribute to this process.”

Parliamentary sources said that Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmus, who is currently in Kyrgyzstan, will refer the bill to the Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by former Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, upon his return, for discussion, paving the way for its presentation to a plenary session for ratification.

The “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense” includes key provisions, most notably that any attack on a signatory state is considered an attack on all three countries, similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) charter. Other provisions concern joint arms production and technology exchange among defense industry companies, military training and joint exercises, training of specialized military personnel, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism efforts.

Turkish Foreign Ministry sources noted that the two ministers emphasized during phone talks on Monday the Houthi attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In the same context, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly condemned the Houthi attacks, noting that the assault on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resulted in the loss of many lives, including among our brothers, such as pilgrims, and left hundreds injured.

Erdoğan added in a speech during a meeting with village heads at the presidential complex on the night of Monday into Tuesday that the Houthi attacks targeting our friend and sister nation, Saudi Arabia, have significantly escalated tensions in our region.