Image source: Anadolu via Getty Images
On November 5, the Turkish Parliament approved the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which brings together Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in a military alliance. With this step, the three countries have completed the internal ratification procedures necessary for the agreement to enter into force.
Once the parties submit their ratification documents to the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, the agreement, and thus the alliance itself, will officially enter into force.
The agreement places Türkiye within a new military alliance outside the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Under the agreement, any attack launched by a foreign party on any of the three countries is considered an attack on all members of the coalition, obligating the parties to provide military support to each other.
In five questions, we review the Mecca Alliance and the objections raised by the Turkish opposition parties regarding it.
Why did Türkiye join the Mecca alliance?
Türkiye has long defended the principle of "regional ownership", based on its conviction that regional problems should be solved through initiatives led by the countries of the region themselves.
Ankara believes that the failure of countries in the region to address their problems opens the door to the intervention of external forces, which often leads to aggravation of the situation.
During parliamentary discussions on the agreement, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Levent Gumrukcu summarized his country's approach by saying: “At a time when the problems in our region are becoming more complex, the three signatory countries chose not to wait for solutions from outside. Instead, they shouldered their responsibilities themselves and took the first step towards building a regional security system based on cooperation and collective defense, while laying the legal basis for the institutional framework that will support it.”
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Turkey's goals in the medium and long term are to expand the Mecca Alliance, which in its first phase includes three countries, with other countries joining it over time, thus contributing to the establishment of a new security system in the Middle East.
In addition to the Mecca Alliance, Türkiye also participates in the Badr Alliance, which includes Pakistan, Qatar, and Indonesia. Through these initiatives, Ankara seeks to play a leadership and founding role in the emerging regional security mechanisms.
After establishing military bases in Qatar, Somalia, and Libya, reports indicate that Türkiye is also considering establishing a military base in Saudi Arabia, as part of its efforts to become a major party in the changing security system in the region.
Preventing the emergence of a security vacuum in the region, especially through cooperation with the Gulf states, is seen as another strategic goal for Turkey, should the United States completely withdraw from the Middle East in the future.
Recent developments, including the war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, its repercussions in the Strait of Hormuz, the turmoil in the Red Sea resulting from Houthi attacks, as well as the broader regional ramifications of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, are said to have accelerated efforts to create a Mecca alliance.
What are the most prominent provisions of the Mecca Alliance?
The agreement approved by the Turkish Parliament consists of 16 articles, and the first and second articles define its basic objectives.
Article 1 states: “If the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or internationally recognized borders of any of the parties are threatened or dangerous, the parties must use all necessary means to eliminate these threats or dangers.”
As for Article 2, which is similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), it stipulates that “any armed attack originating from a foreign party against any of the parties shall be considered an attack against all parties.”
The agreement also includes provisions stating:
The three countries also agreed to establish a permanent secretariat for the coalition in Saudi Arabia, headed by a Pakistani general.
The Strategic Political and Defense Committee will assume the task of the main decision-making body in the coalition.
The agreement allows other countries to join the alliance in the future, with the three founding countries taking decisions related to its expansion. Reports indicate that several countries have already expressed interest in joining it.
According to reports, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan agree on the necessity of not considering the inclusion of new members until the establishment of the institutional framework for the alliance is completed.
According to the text of the agreement, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement remains in effect for an indefinite period. However, any party may withdraw from it ten years after it enters into force.
Will Türkiye send military forces to Saudi Arabia?
Türkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of the Mecca Alliance on August 7.
Days later, the escalation of Houthi attacks based in Yemen against Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting vital energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, turned attention to Türkiye and Pakistan.
On October 5, the Strategic Political and Defense Committee agreed to “take immediate measures to implement collective defense commitments on the ground, provide agreed upon military forces and capabilities, and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom.”
Statements issued by Ankara indicate that any support provided to Saudi Arabia will be of a purely defensive nature, with no plans to launch operations or carry out military movements against the Houthis.
The Turkish government is expected to seek parliamentary approval before providing any military support.
Previous statements from Ankara indicate that the planned aid may include:
Türkiye is expected to move in accordance with the consultations and requests submitted by Saudi Arabia, within the framework of Article 92 of the Turkish Constitution.
This article regulates the declaration of war and the deployment of the Turkish armed forces outside the country, as well as allowing the stationing of foreign forces on Turkish territory.
Under Article 92, Parliament has the power to declare war, send Turkish forces abroad in cases recognized as legal by international law, and allow the presence of foreign forces inside Türkiye.
What is the position of the government and the opposition in Türkiye on the coalition?
The agreement was approved by the following parties:
In contrast, the following parties voted against the agreement:
The Turkish government believes that the alliance is necessary to achieve:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and government officials describe the alliance as "the embodiment of peace and stability."
They stress that the alliance is entirely defensive in nature, and is based on the right to self-defense stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The government also stresses that the agreement does not target any specific country, and that the door to joining it remains open to other friendly and brotherly countries in the region.
Opposition criticism
“Implementation of the agreement began before its ratification.”
One of the opposition's most prominent criticisms is that implementation of the agreement began before it received parliamentary approval.
Opposition parties say that several meetings were held and decisions were made regarding providing military support to Saudi Arabia after the signing of the agreement on August 7, making these measures unconstitutional.
Security risks
Opposition figures have asked what specific defense needs Türkiye seeks to meet by joining the coalition.
The opposition believes that Türkiye is at risk of becoming involved in the conflicts and crises facing Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and that the agreement may lead to the formation of new military blocs instead of achieving regional stability.
According to critics of the agreement, Türkiye may find itself forced to bear political, military and economic costs resulting from the conflicts of other countries.
They also believe that the government did not provide a convincing explanation for the security advantages provided by the alliance, beyond the umbrella of collective defense that NATO already provides.
Some opposition figures also warned that statements by the Houthis, which already classify member states of the Mecca coalition as threats, could increase the risks facing the Turkish military presence in Somalia.
Threat assessment
The opposition also points out that Türkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia are located in different geographical regions and face different security challenges.
She says that defensive alliances are usually created to confront a clearly defined threat, while the Mecca Alliance framework does not include a definition of a specific threat.
"Terrorist threat"
Another concern is how counter-terrorism cooperation will be implemented.
Opposition representatives point out that the three countries adopt different definitions of terrorism, and have different lists of terrorist organizations.
They believe that there is a lack of transparency regarding the mechanisms through which this cooperation will be implemented on the ground.
Conflict in Yemen
Many opposition figures focused on the nature of potential military support for Saudi Arabia and the risks associated with it.
Some opponents believe that the real goal of the agreement is to help eliminate the influence of the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, considering that this is actually in line with American efforts aimed at ensuring the security of Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Ozgur Ozil, leader of the New Party, the main opposition party in Turkey, said, “His party will never remain silent, and will never support turning Turkey into a party in the war or sending Turkish soldiers to the deserts of Yemen.”
For his part, the leader of the Al-Jayyid Party, Musawat Darvishoglu, said: “We say no to turning the Turkish soldier into a mercenary for Aramco, and we say no to the Mecca Agreement.”
Commitments to NATO
Another major concern is that Türkiye's participation in the Mecca Alliance may conflict with its commitments and priorities within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Opposition representatives point out that Türkiye bears great responsibilities as the second largest military force in the alliance, which it joined in 1952.
They also believe that international crises in which the member states of the Mecca Alliance may be a party could negatively affect Ankara’s position within NATO.
Could Türkiye's membership in the Mecca Alliance affect its relations with the West?
Türkiye's membership in the Mecca Alliance is gaining importance as it is tangible evidence of the expansion of its defense and security cooperation with the countries of the Middle East and the Gulf.
Government statements indicate that Türkiye's relations and alliances with these countries will not cause problems with the West, despite its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). On the contrary, Ankara believes that these alliances should be viewed positively, as efforts to create new regional mechanisms.
Turkish officials also cite the first meeting held in Istanbul on October 23, between the “Regional Quartet” (R4), which includes Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and the “E3” group, which includes the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, as evidence of Turkey’s growing regional importance.
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