Photo credit, Anadolu via Getty Images
On November 5, the Turkish Parliament ratified the Mecca Agreement on Common Defense, which brings together Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in a military alliance. With this step, the three countries have finalized the internal ratification procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement.
Once the parties have transmitted their instruments of ratification to the Political and Strategic Defense Committee, the agreement — and therefore the alliance itself — will officially enter into force.
This agreement places Turkey in a new military alliance, outside the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Under the agreement, any attack by an external party against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all members of the alliance, thus obligating the parties to provide mutual military support.
Through five questions, we examine the Mecca Alliance and the objections raised against it by Turkish opposition parties.
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Why did Turkey join the Mecca Alliance?
Turkey has long championed the principle of "regional ownership", based on its belief that regional problems should be resolved through initiatives led by the countries in the region themselves.
Ankara believes that the inability of countries in the region to resolve their problems opens the door to the intervention of external forces, which often leads to a worsening of the situation.
During parliamentary debates on the agreement, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Levent Gumrukcu summed up his country's approach: "At a time when the problems in our region are becoming more complex, the three signatory countries have chosen not to wait for solutions from the outside. Instead, they have assumed their responsibilities themselves and taken the first step towards building a regional security system based on cooperation and collective defense, while establishing the legal basis of the institutional framework that will support it."
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Turkey's medium- and long-term goals are to expand the Mecca Alliance, which in its first phase includes three countries, with other countries joining over time, thus contributing to the establishment of a new security system in the Middle East.
In addition to the “Mecca Alliance”, Turkey also participates in the “Badr Alliance”, which brings together Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia. Through these initiatives, Ankara seeks to play a leading and founding role within the emerging regional security mechanisms.
After establishing military bases in Qatar, Somalia and Libya, Turkey is reportedly considering setting up one in Saudi Arabia, part of its desire to become a key player in the rapidly changing security architecture in the region.
Preventing the emergence of a security vacuum in the region - notably through cooperation with the Gulf countries - constitutes another strategic objective for Turkey, in anticipation of a possible total withdrawal of the United States from the Middle East.
It is argued that recent developments — such as the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28, its repercussions in the Strait of Hormuz, the unrest in the Red Sea caused by Houthi attacks, as well as the broader regional consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas — have accelerated efforts to establish the "Mecca Alliance."
What are the main points of the Mecca Alliance?
The agreement, ratified by the Turkish Parliament, consists of 16 articles, the first two of which define its fundamental objectives.
The first article states that "if the territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognized boundaries of either Party are threatened or endangered, the Parties shall employ all necessary means to avert such threats or dangers."
As for the second article - which is similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty - it provides that "any armed attack from an external party against one of the parties is considered an attack against all parties".
The agreement also includes provisions providing for:
The three countries also agreed to establish a permanent general secretariat for the alliance in Saudi Arabia, headed by a Pakistani general.
The Political and Strategic Defense Committee will serve as the primary decision-making body within the alliance.
The agreement provides for the possibility for other states to join the alliance in the future, with the three founding countries remaining solely authorized to make decisions relating to its enlargement. According to some reports, several countries have already expressed interest in joining.
According to these same sources, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agree that no new membership should be considered before the establishment of the institutional framework of the alliance is completed.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Mecca Treaty on Common Defense remains in force for an indefinite period. However, any party has the option of withdrawing from it ten years after its entry into force.
Will Turkey send military forces to Saudi Arabia?
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced the creation of the "Mecca Alliance" on August 7.
Days later, intensifying attacks by the Yemen-based Houthis against Saudi Arabia — including targeting vital energy facilities and civilian infrastructure — focused attention on Turkey and Pakistan.
On October 5, the Strategic Political and Defense Commission agreed to “take immediate steps to deliver on collective defense commitments on the ground, deliver the agreed forces and military capabilities, and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom.”
Statements coming out of Ankara indicate that any support provided to Saudi Arabia will be purely defensive in nature, with no plans for offensive military operations or moves against the Houthis.
The Turkish government is likely to seek parliamentary approval before providing any military support.
According to previous statements from Ankara, the envisaged aid could include:
Turkey is expected to act based on consultations and requests made by Saudi Arabia, within the framework of Article 92 of the Turkish Constitution.
This article governs the declaration of war and the deployment of Turkish armed forces abroad, while authorizing the stationing of foreign forces on Turkish territory.
Under Article 92, it is up to Parliament to declare war, send Turkish troops abroad in cases whose legitimacy is recognized by international law, and authorize the presence of foreign forces in Turkey.
What is the position of the government and opposition in Türkiye regarding the alliance?
The agreement received the approval of the following parties:
On the other hand, the following parties voted against the agreement:
The Turkish government believes that the alliance is necessary to achieve:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and government officials describe the alliance as an “embodiment of peace and stability.”
They emphasize that the alliance is purely defensive in nature and is based on the right to self-defense, as stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The government also insists that the agreement does not target any particular state and that the door remains open for other friendly and brotherly countries in the region to join.
Opposition criticism
“Implementation of the agreement began before its ratification.”
One of the main criticisms made by the opposition is that the implementation of the agreement began even before it received parliamentary approval.
Opposition parties claim that several meetings were held and decisions regarding providing military support to Saudi Arabia were made after the agreement was signed on August 7; measures that they consider unconstitutional.
Security risks
Opposition figures have questioned the specific defense needs that Turkey seeks to meet by joining this alliance.
According to the opposition, Turkey faces the risk of being drawn into the conflicts and crises facing Pakistan and Saudi Arabia; she also fears that this agreement will lead to the formation of new military blocs, instead of promoting regional stability.
Critics of the deal say Turkey could find itself forced to bear political, military and economic costs arising from conflicts involving other countries.
They also believe that the government has not provided a convincing explanation as to the security advantages offered by this alliance, beyond the collective defense umbrella already provided by NATO.
Some opposition figures have also warned that statements by the Houthis — who already view member states of the “Mecca Alliance” as threats — could increase the risks to Turkey's military presence in Somalia.
Threat assessment
The opposition also points out that Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in different geographic areas and face distinct security challenges.
She argues that defensive alliances are generally formed to counter a clearly defined threat, whereas the Mecca alliance framework does not include a definition of a specific threat.
“The terrorist threat”
One of the other concerns concerns the modalities of implementing cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
Opposition representatives point out that the three countries have different definitions of terrorism and have separate lists of terrorist organizations.
They also believe that there is a lack of transparency regarding the mechanisms by which this cooperation will be concretely implemented on the ground.
The conflict in Yemen
Many opposition figures have focused on the nature of potential military support for Saudi Arabia and the risks associated with it.
Some opponents believe that the real objective of this agreement is to help eliminate the influence of the Houthis – supported by Iran – in Yemen, considering that this is, in fact, in line with American efforts to guarantee the security of Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's main opposition party, said his party "will never remain silent and will in no way support the transformation of Turkey into a party to the conflict, nor the sending of Turkish soldiers to the deserts of Yemen."
For his part, Müsavat Dervişoğlu, leader of the “The Good” Party (İYİ Parti), said: “We say no to the transformation of the Turkish soldier into a mercenary in the service of Aramco, and we say no to the Mecca agreement.”
Commitments to NATO
Another major concern is the risk that Turkey's participation in the "Mecca Alliance" could be at odds with its commitments and priorities within NATO.
Opposition representatives emphasize that Turkey bears important responsibilities as the second military power in the Alliance, which it joined in 1952.
They also believe that international crises in which the member states of the "Mecca Alliance" could be involved are likely to negatively affect Ankara's position within NATO.
Could Turkey's membership in the Mecca Alliance affect its relations with the West?
Turkey's membership in the "Mecca Alliance" is of particular significance, constituting tangible proof of its expanding defense and security cooperation with Middle East and Gulf countries.
According to statements by Turkish authorities, the relations and alliances that Turkey maintains with these countries should not cause tensions with the West, despite its membership in NATO. On the contrary, Ankara believes that these alliances must be perceived positively, to the extent that they are part of an approach aimed at establishing new regional mechanisms.
Turkish officials also point to the first meeting — held in Istanbul on October 23 — between the "Regional Quartet" (R4), made up of Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and the "E3" group (including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy), as an illustration of Turkey's growing importance regionally.
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