World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Syria weighs joining Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan defense pact
Syria is preparing to join a mutual defense pact with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, though membership talks are still under way.
The agreement, signed in August, says members must assist a partner facing an outside armed attack, with support decided through consultations.
Turkey's parliament has approved the pact, but any Turkish combat deployment abroad would still need parliamentary authorization.
Saudi Arabia is seeking military support as fighting with Yemen's Houthi movement has resumed after years of relative calm.
About 600 Syrian special forces personnel may go to Saudi Arabia to serve near its border with Yemen, according to one Syrian official, while Syrian personnel have already traveled there to advise and train forces.
Syria's foreign minister says the country has no troops in Yemen and does not intend to send any there soon; he says overseas deployments will be made public.
The next steps are Syria's membership decision and any publicly announced deployment, while the pact's members would determine what assistance is needed after an attack.
Syria is preparing to join a mutual defense pact with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, according to two Syrian officials cited by the Associated Press.
The officials said the decision had not been announced, while a regional official said membership talks were continuing.
The pact requires members to assist a partner subjected to an external armed attack, with support decided through consultations.
Riyadh is seeking military support against Yemen’s Houthis, Turkish Minute reported, citing the AP.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Syria has no soldiers in Yemen and does not intend to send them there in the near future.
- Who
- Syria is preparing to join a pact with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
- What
- The pact requires members to assist a partner subjected to an external armed attack.
- When
- The agreement was signed on August 7. Syria’s decision to join has not been announced.
- Where
- The agreement concerns Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Syria.
- Why
- Riyadh is seeking military support against Yemen’s Houthis.
Opponents of the pact
Turkish officials backing the pact
Potential military commitments
Opponents of the pact
Turkish opposition lawmakers warned the pact could commit Turkish forces to conflicts involving Saudi Arabia or Pakistan.
Turkish officials backing the pact
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay said any Turkish combat deployment abroad would still require parliamentary authorization.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed discussions about joining the alliance at a security conference in Bahrain.
Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a military cooperation agreement during President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh.
Reuters reported that Syrian personnel had traveled to Saudi Arabia to advise and train Saudi and Yemeni forces.
Turkey’s parliament approved the pact.
Al-Shaibani said Syria had no soldiers in Yemen and did not intend to send them there in the near future.
- Agreement
- Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed August 7
- Countries named in pact
- Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan; Syria is preparing to join
- Saudi visit
- Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited Riyadh on November 4
- Expected deployment
- About 600 Syrian special forces personnel were expected to travel to Saudi Arabia this week, according to one Syrian official cited by AP
- Saudi funding
- More than $403 million in loans for Syrian housing, health, energy and infrastructure projects