Turkiye's parliament ratifies Makkah defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

• Ratification clears way for Ankara to send military support to Riyadh.
• Pact aims to expand security cooperation in region, says lawmaker.
• None of signatories can withdraw during first 10 years: pact text.

ANKARA: Turkiye’s parliament has ratified the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a collective security pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, clearing the way for Ankara to send military support to Riyadh amid attacks by Houthis against the kingdom.

Under the agreement, signed by the three regional powers in August and sent to parliament's approval last month, an attack on one party constitutes an attack on all.

A ruling party lawmaker told Reuters last month that Turkiye would also submit to parliament a mandate allowing for military personnel to be deployed to Saudi Arabia under the pact.

During the debate in parliament, ruling Justice and Development Party lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldiz stressed that the agreement aims to expand security cooperation in the region, state-run Anadolu reported.

He emphasised that it contains no approach against any third country and that its main goal is to prevent conflicts rather than escalate them.

The agreement's first article says the parties shall use "all necessary means" to eliminate threats to one another's territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognised borders, according to a text seen by Reuters.

"In the event one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the parties shall immediately provide assistance to the party under attack, utilising the full range of mutual assistance measures available to them," Article 2 of the agreement says.

The provision, similar to Nato's Article 5, refers to Article 51 of the UN Charter, which covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defence against armed attack.

The three countries will determine the scope and nature of support after objectively assessing the assistance required and will cooperate within their available resources, including military capabilities, the same article says.

10-year minimum commitment

The agreement stipulates that none of the three signatories can withdraw during the first 10 years from its entry into force. After that period, any party seeking to leave must give the other signatories at least three months' written notice through diplomatic channels, according to the agreement's text.

The pact will remain in force indefinitely, subject to its withdrawal provisions. Departure by a signatory will not affect activities or projects agreed upon before its withdrawal, while obligations relating to the protection of classified information will remain binding, the text says.

The agreement also requires the parties to maintain the confidentiality of classified information and documents obtained under its provisions. Such material cannot be disclosed or transferred to any state, company or individual outside the parties to the agreement, according to the text.

Amendments may be made through consultations and with the unanimous approval of the agreement's designated "Core Parties", the document says.

Defence cooperation and regional security

At an emergency meeting of the alliance in Riyadh last month, the three countries agreed to ensure the "rapid deployment" of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks.

Turkiye, which has a robust defence industry, has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressed willingness to help meet Riyadh's military technology needs and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to ensure navigational safety in the Red Sea.

The agreement also envisages close cooperation in the defence industry, intelligence sharing, logistical support and the fight against "all means of terrorism", including at the operational level. It also provides for joint training and cooperation in research, development and advanced technologies.