Türkiye has submitted a defence agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to parliament for ratification, three parliamentary sources said Tuesday. The move brings Ankara closer to formally approving a mutual defence commitment with Riyadh amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August. Under the pact, an armed attack against one member would count as an attack against all three countries. However, the countries did not specify each member’s exact commitments in their joint statement.
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Earlier this month, the three countries agreed to ensure the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia. Their leaders reached the agreement during an emergency alliance meeting in Riyadh as regional security concerns continued.
Türkiye has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and offered to help meet Riyadh’s military technology needs. Ankara has also agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to protect navigation in the Red Sea.
Türkiye requires parliamentary approval to ratify the agreement formally. Parliamentary Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş will refer the pact to the foreign affairs commission after returning from Kyrgyzstan, two sources said. The agreement’s details should become public once the commission receives it.
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One source said the commission could debate the agreement as early as Friday. However, the sources did not confirm a final timetable for parliamentary approval or disclose the pact’s full text.
A Turkish official said Ankara expected to contribute military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems. The official added that the alliance had not involved any other form of Turkish deployment so far. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the agreement as defensive and said Türkiye would not send troops abroad to attack another country.