Turkiye has submitted the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance to Parliament for ratification, advancing a trilateral security framework with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Turkiye has submitted the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance, signed with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August 2026, to its parliament for ratification, moving the three countries closer to formalising a framework for mutual defence, intelligence sharing and military cooperation.
Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three members will be treated as an attack on all three. The signatories have committed to assisting one another against external aggression and protecting their territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognised borders.
The pact allows the countries to use necessary means to address security threats. The nature and extent of assistance will be determined after assessing the needs of the country under attack, alongside the resources and military capabilities available to the other members.
The arrangement draws comparisons with Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, which establishes collective defence, and refers to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognises the right to individual and collective self-defence against armed attacks.
Pact establishes a 10-year minimum commitment
The agreement stipulates that no member may withdraw during the first 10 years after it enters into force. After that period, a country seeking to leave must provide the other signatories with at least three months’ written notice through diplomatic channels.
The pact will remain in force indefinitely unless a member withdraws under its provisions. Withdrawal will not affect previously agreed activities and projects, while obligations relating to the protection of classified information will remain binding.
The three countries are also required to safeguard confidential documents and information exchanged under the agreement. Such material cannot be shared with governments, companies or individuals outside the alliance. Any amendments will require consultations and unanimous approval from the designated core parties.
Turkiye’s role expected to focus on defence technology
Turkiye’s participation is expected to concentrate on military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems rather than sending troops abroad for military operations.
A Turkish official said no other form of military deployment had taken place under the alliance so far. Ankara has also stressed that the agreement is defensive in nature and does not authorise offensive military action.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Turkiye would not send troops to another country to launch attacks from its territory. The Turkish Constitution also requires separate parliamentary authorisation for overseas troop deployments, regardless of international agreements.
The alliance envisages broader cooperation in defence production, intelligence, logistics, counterterrorism, joint military training, research and the development of advanced technologies.
Parliamentary review expected to begin soon
Turkish parliamentary sources said Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus would refer the agreement to the Foreign Affairs Committee after returning from a visit to Kyrgyzstan. The committee could begin debating the pact as early as Friday.
Ratification is required to complete Turkiye’s formal approval process.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director, Burhanettin Duran, described the development as an important milestone in strategic cooperation. He said the partnership aimed to strengthen collective deterrence, improve defence capabilities and promote regional security and stability.
Regional tensions drive closer defence coordination
The move comes amid heightened regional security concerns, including attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this month, representatives of the three countries agreed at an emergency meeting in Riyadh to facilitate the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Turkiye has condemned the Houthi attacks and expressed willingness to help address Saudi Arabia’s military technology requirements. Ankara has also agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition aimed at ensuring safe navigation in the Red Sea.
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