Turkey has indicated that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, could be extended to encompass additional Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, stated Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus on Friday.
The MJDA, signed in August, establishes a collective security framework whereby an armed attack on any one of the signatories would be considered an attack on all three. Pakistan recently appointed Lt-Gen (retd) Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary general of the agreement on Wednesday.
Kurtulmus emphasized that the pact still requires parliamentary ratification before it can be formally implemented. Currently, preparatory discussions among the participating nations are focused on defining the agreement’s framework and addressing Saudi Arabia’s specific security concerns.
“International agreements must receive parliamentary approval to come into effect,” Kurtulmus told reporters in Ankara. He anticipates the agreement will be presented to Turkey’s parliament after the lawmakers return from their October recess, with the ratification process potentially commencing next month.
In a significant development, Kurtulmus suggested the defence arrangement might evolve into a broader security coalition involving the wider Muslim world, potentially including Iran. The pact was signed amid rising regional tensions, with the three countries working to establish operational guidelines and assess Saudi Arabia’s security needs.
When asked if the pact was aimed against Iran, Kurtulmus reiterated Turkey’s stance that the agreement is not directed at any particular country. Instead, its primary objective is to safeguard regional states amid ongoing conflicts and Israel’s “hostile policies.” He also expressed hope that Tehran could join the pact in the future.
“We do not view the Makkah Agreement as a pact against Iran; it should not be perceived that way. We hope it can develop into a broader agreement for the Muslim world. Iran’s participation would strengthen it further,” he said.
Ankara has previously indicated its willingness to assist Riyadh with military needs, particularly technical support. However, officials clarified that any assistance at this stage would be bilateral and aligned with their alliance, as the joint agreement has yet to be ratified.
Meanwhile, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are scheduled to meet to explore ways to support Riyadh further.
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