Turkiye Ratifies Makkah Defence Pact With Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

Turkiye’s parliament has ratified the Makkah defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, clearing the last major hurdle for the three-nation security agreement. Lawmakers in Ankara approved the bill on Thursday by 279 votes to 119. A total of 398 of the chamber’s 592 members took part in the vote, Dawn and Al Jazeera reported.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already completed their own ratification. Therefore, Thursday’s vote paves the way for the pact to come into force.

What the Makkah defence pact says

The three countries agreed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement during a summit in Makkah on 7 August. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended.

The pact has 16 articles, according to a text seen by Reuters. Under Article 1, the members agree to use “all necessary means” to remove threats to one another’s territory and sovereignty.

Article 2 is the key clause. It says that if one member faces an armed attack, the others “shall immediately provide assistance to the party under attack”. In practice, an attack on one is treated as an attack on all. Reuters and Al Jazeera have compared this clause to Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

However, the pact also says the members will decide the scope of any help together. They will assess what is needed and act within their available resources.

A long-term commitment

No member can leave during the first 10 years after the pact takes effect, Geo News reported, citing the Reuters text. After that, a country wishing to exit must give at least three months’ written notice.

The agreement also covers much more than emergencies. For example, it provides for defence industry cooperation, intelligence sharing, logistics and joint training. It also commits members to work together against terrorism. Other countries may join with the approval of existing members, and Syria has already shown interest, according to Al Jazeera.

Debate in the Turkish parliament

The vote followed a long debate. Ziya Altunyaldiz of the ruling AK Party said the pact targets no third country. He stressed that it is meant to prevent conflicts, not escalate them.

On the other hand, opposition members raised concerns. The Republican People’s Party’s Mehmet Guzelmansur said clear rules were needed so the pact does not clash with Turkiye’s other international duties. Some critics have also asked how it fits with Turkiye’s NATO membership. Turkish officials say those worries are unfounded.

Why it matters for Pakistan

For Islamabad, the pact deepens long-standing military ties with two close partners. Pakistan has trained Saudi forces for decades. It also works closely with Turkiye on training, naval cooperation and defence equipment.

Pakistan has a leading role in setting up the alliance. In September, a Pakistani general, Lt Gen Mahmood, was named the first secretary general of the pact, The Express Tribune reported. The secretariat is based in Riyadh. It will oversee implementation and coordinate joint activities during its first three years.

Last month, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had finished their ratification processes.

Context: Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

The vote comes as Saudi Arabia faces repeated missile and drone attacks from Yemen’s Houthis. In October, an emergency alliance meeting held in Riyadh called for the “rapid deployment” of agreed forces to the kingdom.

Even so, Turkish troops will not automatically head to Saudi Arabia. Turkiye’s constitution requires separate parliamentary approval for any deployment abroad. In October, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said Ankara did not plan to fight the Houthis. “We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis,” he said, according to Turkish media. Instead, he said Turkish support would aim to strengthen deterrence.

What comes next

With all three ratifications complete, the focus now shifts to putting the pact into practice. In the coming weeks, attention will turn to whether Ankara seeks a troop mandate from parliament. Observers will also watch what role Pakistan plays as the alliance takes shape.