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Turkey submits Mecca Joint Defense Agreement for ratification

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 11:50 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Turkey submitted the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement to parliament for ratification on Oct 20 2026.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact on Aug. 7 2026.
The agreement declares an armed attack on any signatory as an attack on all three members.
Turkey will provide equipment, intelligence and weapons but no combat troops.

History

Historical Context

The Baghdad Pact, signed 24 February 1955 by Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom, formed a tier to contain the Soviet Union. Iraq withdrew in 1959, the pact became CENTO, and after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the 1979 Iranian Revolution it dissolved on 16 March 1979. The 2026 Mecca Joint Defense Agreement linking Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan revives this tradition of collective security.

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Story summary

Turkey submitted the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement to parliament for ratification on Oct 20 2026.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact on Aug. 7 2026.
The agreement declares an armed attack on any signatory as an attack on all three members.
Turkey will provide equipment, intelligence and weapons but no combat troops.

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