Al-Shaibani: Syria Considering Joining Mecca Defense Pact

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani announced on Saturday that his country is considering the possibility of joining the Mecca Defense Pact, which includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue forum in the Bahraini capital, al-Shibani stated that “discussions are currently underway to evaluate Syria’s entry into the Mecca Pact.”

Addressing the foundations of regional security, al-Shibani emphasized that regional stability hinges on ending the tragedy in the Gaza Strip and establishing a pathway toward the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The Syrian News Agency (SANA) quoted al-Shibani as saying, “Our lands have been subjected to more than a thousand Israeli attacks in less than two years, resulting in the deaths of dozens. How can the demand for border control and arms restriction be justified while Syrian sovereignty is violated and targeted on a daily basis?”

Al-Shibani condemned the repeated attacks by the occupation on Syrian territory, calling for a return to the lines of December 8, 2024, and the activation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. He affirmed that “the Golan is Syrian land, and Resolution 497 is the reference,” noting that “the scale of suffering endured by Syrians places the international community under shared moral and historical responsibilities to ensure the success of Syria’s recovery path. We look to our partners to stand by us in this endeavor.”

The foreign minister welcomed the lifting of broad sanctions and the removal of Syria from terrorism lists, stating, “Our hope remains pinned on transforming this positive political climate into an economic reality and a partnership that yields tangible results on the ground.” He added that “Syria has exited the trench of conflicts to take its place at the table of security architecture. When Damascus rises and regains its health, the region will regain its balance, and regional security will regain its true meaning.”