Turkish parliament approves Makkah Defence Pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

Turkiye has taken a major step towards strengthening regional security cooperation by approving the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, bringing the trilateral military alliance closer to full implementation.

The Turkish parliament approved the agreement on Thursday by 279 votes to 119, following an extensive debate among lawmakers. A total of 398 members participated in the voting in the 592-member parliament.

The approval clears an important legal hurdle for the trilateral security arrangement, which aims to strengthen collective defence capabilities, expand military cooperation and promote regional stability.

The agreement, formally titled the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, was discussed extensively before lawmakers endorsed the legislation.

During the parliamentary debate, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldiz said the agreement was designed to enhance regional security cooperation rather than target any particular country.

He stressed that the pact contained no hostile approach towards third countries, adding that its primary objective was to prevent conflicts and strengthen peace.

However, opposition lawmakers raised questions about the agreement’s scope and implementation. Mehmet Guzelmansur of the Republican People’s Party called for clear rules and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the arrangement remained consistent with Turkiye’s existing international commitments.

What the Makkah defence agreement means

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the landmark agreement during a trilateral summit in Makkah on August 7, committing to closer defence coordination, collective security and regional stability.

A central provision of the pact establishes a framework for collective assistance if any of the three countries faces external armed aggression. The nature and extent of assistance will be determined collectively, taking into account the circumstances of each situation.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already completed their respective ratification processes, while Turkiye was finalising its domestic legal requirements.

Last month, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed that the three countries were progressing towards implementing the agreement.

Momentum increased following an October 5 meeting of the alliance’s Strategic, Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh, which called for the immediate implementation of collective defence commitments.

The meeting also called for the rapid deployment of previously agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, subject to the participating countries’ national legislation.

Turkiye’s parliamentary approval marks another significant milestone for the emerging security partnership. With all three countries advancing their domestic procedures, the agreement is moving closer to becoming an operational framework for regional collective defence.