Turkish Parliament debates ratifying Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Lawmakers in Ankara this week debated a bill to ratify the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, under which an armed attack on Türkiye, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan would be treated as an attack on all three, though the attacked state must first ask for help. The pact also sets up joint arms production and intelligence-sharing, and has been operating informally since the three countries' first strategic committee meeting in Istanbul on 31 August.

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