The Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill to ratify the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact in Makkah on 7 August.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have already finished their domestic ratification processes and sent official notifications. Deputy Foreign Minister Levent Gumrukcu said, "The Makkah agreement is not only an extension of the special friendly relations between the three countries, but also a concrete product of the regional ownership increasingly needed in our region."
The agreement seeks to enhance regional security through collective defence and cooperation. Officials stated the pact is entirely defensive and does not target any specific country.
Military cooperation under the deal includes joint training programs, personnel exchanges, and joint exercises. The three nations will also share technology and engage in joint production within the defence industry.
Logistical support and joint counterterrorism efforts are also included in the framework. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay said, "There were questions about whether an alternative to NATO was being created. Absolutely not."
The agreement will not replace or undermine Türkiye's obligations under existing alliances and agreements. The initiative is expected to complement Türkiye's participation in NATO.
