TBMM Foreign Affairs Commission Begins Discussions on Mecca Defense Agreement

The bill approving the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement among Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has begun deliberations in the TBMM Foreign Affairs Commission.

In his presentation to the commission, Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Levent Gümrükçü stated that the agreement was signed in Mecca on August 7, 2026, by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Gümrükçü announced that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have completed their domestic ratification processes and submitted formal notification to Turkey.

Gümrükçü emphasized that the agreement first and foremost represents an extension of the deep historical relations between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. "The Mecca Agreement is not only an extension of the special friendship relations among the three countries, but also a concrete product of a regional ownership vision that is increasingly felt as a need in our region," said Gümrükçü, continuing his remarks: "Indeed, in today's times when problems in our region have become even more complicated, the three countries party to the Agreement, rather than waiting for solutions to these problems to be found from outside, have themselves assumed responsibility and taken the first step toward a regional security architecture based on cooperation and collective defense, and have laid the legal ground for the institutional framework to be built in this direction."

Emphasizing that the agreement is entirely defense-focused and does not target any country, Gümrükçü stated, "The Mecca Agreement envisions integration rather than any polarization in the region and contains an inclusive rather than divisive vision." He added that the agreement is open to participation by all regional countries that respect international law, including principles of respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-use of force except in legitimate self-defense, peaceful resolution of disputes, and non-interference in internal affairs.

Gümrükçü conveyed that the agreement plans to strengthen collective deterrence, conduct regular consultations on international security matters, and increase the interoperability of armed forces through reciprocal personnel exchanges, joint training programs, and exercises. He also noted that cooperation including joint production and technology sharing in the defense industry would be supported, joint efforts in counterterrorism would be strengthened, and the parties would provide each other with logistical support. Gümrükçü underscored that the agreement does not eliminate or replace Turkey's obligations arising from its other alliances or agreements.