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A Turkish parliamentary committee on Tuesday approved a bill to ratify a joint defense agreement between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, advancing the pact toward a decision by the country’s parliament.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye approved the legislation covering the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense, which the three countries signed on Aug. 7, 2026.
The bill was submitted to parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 21, according to the legislature’s official records.
The agreement establishes a framework for Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to coordinate their responses to security threats and strengthen their ability to deter potential attacks.
Under the pact, the three countries commit to protecting one another's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. They also pledge mutual assistance in exercising their right to self-defense under the United Nations Charter.
It also covers threats and attacks that the three countries jointly assess as affecting their security, including terrorism. It also calls for closer coordination among their armed forces, improved military interoperability and expanded cooperation in the defense industry.
However, the agreement does not automatically trigger a military response if one of the signatories comes under attack. The countries would consult one another and determine the nature and scope of any assistance by mutual agreement, taking their national laws and constitutional obligations into account.
The agreement has already moved beyond its initial signing. On Aug. 31, representatives of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia met in Istanbul for the first meeting of the pact's Strategic Political and Defense Committee, which brings together the countries' foreign and defense ministers and military chiefs.
The committee met again in Riyadh on Oct. 5, when it appointed retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood as its first secretary-general for a three-year term.
The meeting also set out steps to put the collective-defense commitments into practice, including arrangements for the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, subject to the parties' national laws.
Pakistan announced on Oct. 24 that it had completed its ratification process and said Saudi Arabia had also completed its procedures. The agreement's ratification and implementation remain under discussion among the three countries, according to Pakistan's Foreign Office.
With the committee's approval, the bill is expected to move to the parliament's General Assembly, where lawmakers will debate its provisions and vote on ratification. The agreement requires parliamentary approval before Türkiye can complete its domestic ratification process.
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