Turkiye’s parliament has ratified a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that includes a collective defence clause. The agreement commits NATO’s second-largest military to aid the other members if one of them comes under attack.
The vote took place on Thursday, as Riyadh continues to face attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Turkiye first signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August and sent it to parliament for ratification last month.
Parliament approves the Mecca pact after a split session
Article 1 of the bill approving the pact was adopted by the Turkish parliament on Wednesday. Deputy Parliament Speaker Celal Adan then adjourned the session until Thursday afternoon, according to the Anadolu news agency.
Also read: Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia, not part of Yemen conflict
When lawmakers returned, they continued debating the remaining articles. The agreement passed with 279 votes in favour and 119 against, with 398 of the chamber’s 592 lawmakers taking part.
A document submitted to the Turkish parliament, which was seen by Reuters, shows the pact contains 16 articles.
Collective defence clause mirrors NATO’s Article 5
Under Article 1, the signatories would use “all necessary means” to eliminate threats to one another’s territorial integrity. That article can be invoked if any member state is attacked. Once it is invoked, the document sets out what follows.
Article 2 states that if one party is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression, the others “shall immediately provide assistance to the party under attack.” The clause closely resembles Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which establishes that an attack on one NATO member is treated as an attack on all.
Because Turkiye belongs to both NATO and the Mecca pact, critics have questioned whether its government could face a conflict of interest in allocating military resources. Turkish officials have dismissed those concerns as unfounded.
Troop deployment questions amid Houthi attacks
Other articles commit members to increasing cooperation in the defence industry and military coordination, with the aim of deterring threats. They also cover joint training, technological innovation, and the sharing of logistics and intelligence resources.
The draft commits member countries to the pact for 10 years, after which they may withdraw. It also allows other countries to join with the approval of existing members, and Syria’s government has already expressed interest.
Thursday’s ratification does not mean Turkish troops will necessarily be sent to Saudi Arabia. Experts say any deployment would also require other legislative processes. Defence Minister Yasar Guler said in October that the scope of potential support would be determined after ratification.
Turkish media reported Guler as saying, “We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis.” He said Turkish support would instead be aimed at strengthening deterrence.
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen had eased after a 2022 ceasefire, but the Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent months. They have launched a series of deadly strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The region is also affected by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has added to cross-border tensions.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a drone in the Medina region. Riyadh has several times accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca and Medina, the two holy cities in Islam. The Iran-backed group systematically rejects that accusation.
