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- Agreement pledges mutual support to protect parties’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, while strengthening military coordination, defense industry cooperation without affecting Türkiye’s NATO obligations
By Gazi Nogay and Fatma Zehra Solmaz
ISTANBUL (AA) - A bill seeking parliamentary approval of a joint defense agreement between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was submitted to the Turkish parliament Wednesday.
The three-article bill, submitted under the signature of Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, seeks approval of the Mecca Agreement on Joint Defense, signed by the three countries in Mecca on Aug. 7, 2026.
According to the bill's explanatory memorandum, the agreement aims to strengthen strategic dialogue and cooperation based on mutual trust among regional countries.
It also seeks to establish a security framework based on cooperation and collective deterrence in the Middle East and beyond, while developing regional solutions to security challenges.
The memorandum said deterring aggression and establishing lasting regional stability would have positive socioeconomic effects in the medium and long term.
Under the agreement, the three countries undertake to cooperate to protect one another's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
They also pledge mutual support in exercising their right to self-defense under the UN Charter.
Such measures would be subject to each country's constitutional obligations, national legislation and decisions by competent authorities, according to the memorandum.
The memorandum clarified that the collective defense provision would not be triggered automatically.
Instead, any response would depend on decisions reached by mutual agreement following consultations among the parties.
The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against threats and attacks that the three countries jointly assess as affecting their security, including terrorism.
It also seeks to improve interoperability, cooperation and coordination among their armed forces and deepen defense industry cooperation.
- Agreement does not affect NATO obligations
The memorandum stressed that the agreement is exclusively defensive and does not target any country.
It said the framework is based on regional ownership, cooperative security and inclusivity.
The agreement is open to regional countries seeking to contribute to peace, stability and security while respecting international law, territorial integrity, sovereign equality and noninterference in internal affairs, according to the memorandum.
It emphasized that the agreement would neither cancel nor replace Türkiye's existing bilateral or multilateral obligations.
It said the regional security and stability objectives of the agreement were compatible with NATO's Euro-Atlantic security objectives.
Türkiye's rights and obligations within NATO would remain unaffected, according to the memorandum.
The agreement is expected to deepen Türkiye's bilateral defense and security relations with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia while supporting an inclusive regional security mechanism.
The bill will be considered by parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which has been designated as the lead committee.
If approved by the committee, it will be placed on the agenda of parliament's General Assembly.
