World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Erdoğan says Turkey will seek parliamentary approval for Saudi-Pakistan defense pact
Turkey plans to submit its defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to parliament for approval in the coming days, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.
The three countries signed the agreement on August 7, promising to treat an armed attack on one member as an attack on all.
The announcement comes as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify, including strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
An October 10 missile attack killed 13 people and injured 309, and a projectile hit a passenger terminal on Sunday.
At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, the countries agreed to arrange the rapid deployment of forces and equipment to Saudi Arabia, subject to their laws, but gave no numbers or dates.
Turkey says any cooperation must follow its laws, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said it will not send troops abroad to launch attacks under the pact.
Opposition politicians warn the commitments could pull Turkey into Yemen’s war and say parliament should consider the agreement before military support is pledged.
Erdoğan said Turkey will submit a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to parliament for approval in the coming days.
The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7, pledging to treat an armed attack on one member as an attack on all.
The announcement comes amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
Erdoğan said cooperation under the agreement would comply with Turkish law and reiterated support for diplomacy and respect for sovereignty.
Opposition politicians have warned that the pact could draw Turkey into Yemen’s war and criticized the government for pledging military support before parliamentary approval.
- Who
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey would seek parliamentary approval for the pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
- What
- The government is preparing to submit the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement to parliament. It establishes a collective defense commitment.
- When
- Erdoğan said the submission would happen in the coming days.
- Where
- Turkey; Erdoğan spoke after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.
- Why
- The pact is intended to establish defense cooperation among its members, amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Turkish government
Opposition politicians
Parliamentary approval
Turkish government
The government says it is preparing to submit the agreement to parliament in the coming days.
Opposition politicians
Opposition politicians criticized the government for pledging military support before lawmakers had considered the agreement.
Military involvement
Turkish government
Erdoğan said activities under the pact would comply with Turkish law and reiterated support for diplomacy.
Opposition politicians
Özgür Özel rejected sending Turkish troops to Yemen and warned the commitments could draw Turkey into the war.
The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen to support the internationally recognized government.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
The three countries agreed to implement collective defense commitments and arrange rapid deployment of military forces and equipment to Saudi Arabia, subject to their respective laws.
Erdoğan said Turkey was preparing to submit the agreement to parliament in the coming days.
- Agreement
- Mecca Joint Defense Agreement
- Signatories
- Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
- Signing date
- August 7
- Collective defense
- An armed attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all
- Erdoğan’s stated timeline
- Submit the agreement to parliament in the coming days
What people are saying
Efforts are underway to submit the agreement to our parliament in the coming days to complete the domestic approval process
Sources
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