Turkish parliament approves trilateral defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
Türkiye’s parliament has approved the Mecca Agreement on Joint Defence between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, paving the way for the trilateral security pact to take effect.
The bill was passed on Thursday by 279 votes to 119, with 398 of the parliament’s 592 members participating in the vote, following an extensive debate among political parties.
During the debate, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldiz said the agreement aims to strengthen regional security cooperation and does not target any third country.
He stressed that the main objective of the pact is to prevent conflicts rather than escalate tensions, presenting it as an initiative to promote peace and stability.
Opposition lawmakers, however, raised concerns about the agreement’s scope and implementation. Mehmet Guzelmansur of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) called for clear rules to ensure that the pact remains consistent with Türkiye’s other international obligations.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Agreement on Joint Defence during a trilateral summit in Mecca on August 7.
The agreement commits the three countries to strengthening collective security, expanding defence cooperation and promoting peace and stability across the region and beyond.
Source:AA
