The key facts
- Full text of the pact published after submission to the Turkish parliament; authenticity confirmed by a Turkish source
- Article 2: an armed attack on one party is considered an attack on all parties
- The secretariat is located in Saudi Arabia; the first secretary-general is from Pakistan
Publication of the agreement text
The National has obtained the full text of the Mecca joint defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan after it was submitted for approval to the Turkish parliament. The text had not been published since its signing in August; its authenticity was confirmed by the Turkish side. Entry into legal force requires approval by the Turkish parliament, however some provisions are already being implemented: a secretary-general has been appointed and a central Strategic Political and Defense Committee has been created. According to The National, this month the countries held an emergency meeting to organize the rapid deployment of military forces in Saudi Arabia in connection with Houthi attacks.
Key provisions of the pact
The agreement contains a NATO-style collective defense clause: any external armed attack on one of the parties is considered an attack on all parties, which are obliged to provide immediate assistance, relying on Article 51 of the UN Charter. The parties commit to defending each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and recognized borders, to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, to exchange intelligence through secure channels and to provide logistical support, including weapons, ammunition and fuel. A separate section is devoted to defense-industrial cooperation: joint production, R&D, personnel training and exchange of experience.
Governance structure and procedure of action
A Strategic Political and Defense Committee is being created, composed of the ministers of foreign affairs, defense and the chiefs of the general staff, holding meetings twice a year, alternating between each of the countries. The committee's secretariat is located in Saudi Arabia; it is headed by a secretary-general appointed on a rotating basis for three years, with the first to be a representative of Pakistan. The committee, by consensus of the 'core countries', determines the conditions for the accession of new members. The agreement is open-ended; withdrawal is possible ten years after entry into force with three months' notice. The document is drawn up in Arabic, English and Turkish; in case of discrepancies, the English text prevails.
Signing
The agreement was signed in Mecca on August 7, 2026 (24/2/1448 AH). Turkey was signed for by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Arabia by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
