Newsletters
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he supports an agreement by Türkiye and Pakistan to send military forces to Saudi Arabia, as Ankara moved to submit the underlying defense pact to parliament for ratification.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Texas, Trump was asked about the decision by Türkiye and Pakistan to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia under what has been called the Mecca Defense Alliance. "I think they want to help Saudi Arabia, and I think that's great," he said.
The comments came two days after Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed to move without delay on commitments under the pact.
A joint statement said the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of Mecca had decided to proceed immediately to the practical implementation of collective defense commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities, ensuring their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia in accordance with approved arrangements and each country's national legislation.
The committee said the goal was to strengthen readiness, military integration and the collective capacity to confront and counter threats.
In Ankara, a spokesman for the ruling AK Party said Wednesday that the government would submit the defense agreement to parliament within days.
"The agreement will go to parliament within these few days, and the process will be concluded with the decision of the esteemed parliament," Omer Celik told reporters, setting the stage for a ratification vote that could pave the way for an eventual deployment of Turkish troops to Saudi Arabia.
Celik described the arrangement as a regional peace initiative rather than a rival framework to Türkiye's existing alliances.
"This has no function whatsoever as an alternative to NATO, of which we are a member, or to other places," he said, adding that the pact would play a complementary role in efforts to preserve regional and global peace.
Türkiye has been a NATO member since 1952 and maintains defense ties with both Western allies and regional partners, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Celik also left open the possibility of the alliance expanding.
"These types of security agreements and alliances mature over time by engaging with other states within their own principles and frameworks," he said, suggesting other countries could eventually join.
The agreement still requires formal parliamentary approval in Türkiye before any troop deployment to Saudi Arabia could proceed.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
