Turkey’s parliament approved a joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan by a vote of 279-119, establishing a 10-year security partnership under which an armed attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all three.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed by the leaders of the three countries on Aug. 7 in Saudi Arabia.
The pact provides for collective deterrence, intelligence sharing, joint military exercises and personnel training. It also calls for deeper cooperation in arms production, logistics and technology transfer.
Troop Deployment Would Require a Separate Vote
Parliamentary ratification does not automatically authorize the deployment of Turkish troops to Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. Any overseas deployment would require separate approval from Turkey’s parliament.
Turkish officials say the agreement is defensive and is not directed against Iran or any other country. Potential Turkish support is expected to focus on air defense, electronic warfare, intelligence and technical assistance.
The pact preserves Turkey’s obligations under other international agreements, including its NATO membership. The level of assistance in a specific crisis would be determined after consultations among the members and in accordance with their national laws.
Strategic Committee to Oversee the Pact
A strategic committee made up of the countries’ foreign and defense ministers and military chiefs will oversee implementation. The secretariat will be based in Saudi Arabia, and retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood will serve as its first secretary-general for a three-year term.
The agreement bars withdrawal during its first 10 years. After that period, a member may leave by providing at least three months’ written notice. New members would require the unanimous approval of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Syria has expressed interest in joining, although the founding members say they are currently focused on putting the existing mechanism into operation.
The pact was ratified as Saudi Arabia continued to face attacks by Yemen’s Houthis and as the risk of renewed escalation involving Iran heightened concerns across the Middle East.
Sources: Vesti Baku; Grand National Assembly of Turkey; Associated Press.