279 MPs vote to anchor Turkey in permanent Mecca defense pact
Parliamentary approval clears the legal path for Turkish troops to deploy to Saudi Arabia, with Erdogan expected to sign the law into force this week.
By Rosa Fuentes ·
The Turkish parliament voted on Friday to ratify a military defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a move that paves the way for Turkish troops to enter Saudi territory. The bill passed with 279 votes in favor and 119 against, marking the final legislative step in the domestic process.
The agreement, known as the Mecca defense pact, was signed by the three nations in August. It stipulates that an armed attack on one signatory is considered an attack on all. The 16 article text contains no expiration date and does not name specific regional threats, but it obligates members to support one another in defense of their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to publish the law in the Official Gazette later this week to bring it into force. The vote was supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party and its coalition partner, the Nationalist Movement Party. The Republican People’s Party, which has been split since a court order ousted its leader, also voted in favor, aligning with the government’s position.
Turkish officials state that the immediate next step is securing authorization to deploy forces to Saudi Arabia. This deployment is intended to support Riyadh against Houthi attacks originating from Yemen. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated last week that any Turkish forces sent to Saudi Arabia would serve a defensive role and would not operate within Yemen.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced last month that they had already completed their own ratification processes. Sources familiar with the matter said all three countries committed to formalizing the treaty before trilateral consultation meetings scheduled for later this month.
A separate legal hurdle remains before troops can fully operate. Ankara must negotiate and ratify a Status of Forces Agreement with its partners. This document defines criminal and civil jurisdictions for military personnel. It also governs administrative details such as entry and exit procedures, customs, taxation, and vehicle registration.
It is currently unclear whether negotiations on the Status of Forces Agreement have been concluded. The agreement allows signatories to withdraw only after 10 years from its entry into force, provided they give three months of written notice to the other parties.
