Turkey Says Makkah Defence Agreement Could Expand to Include Iran

A defence pact between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan could turn into a broader agreement for the Muslim world that includes Iran, Turkey's parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus said Friday, adding it is expected to be submitted for ratification next month. Kurtulmus said this while speaking to reporters in Ankara, noting that international agreements require parliamentary approval and the current meetings remain preparatory.

Not Aimed at Any Specific Country

Asked whether the pact was directed against Iran, Kurtulmus repeated Turkey's position that the agreement targets no specific country but aims to ensure regional security amid ongoing conflicts and Israel's policies. He said Turkey hopes the Makkah Agreement can grow into a broader accord that Iran could eventually join, strengthening it further with participation from other regional countries.

Background

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, weeks before Yemen's Houthis launched attacks on Saudi Arabia amid the wider Iran conflict. Similar to NATO's Article 5, the pact treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all. Turkey has previously offered to help meet Saudi Arabia's military needs, though officials say any support before ratification would remain largely bilateral. Military chiefs of the three countries are set to meet to discuss further support for Riyadh.