Pact with Saudi and Pakistan could expand to Muslim world, Iran, Turkish speaker says

ANKARA - The defense pact between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, could potentially expand to include other Muslim countries, including Iran, according to Türkiye's parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus. The regional powers inked the agreement in August, following the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in response to the Iran war.

The pact, similar to NATO's Article 5, stipulates that an attack on one ally is considered an attack on all signatories. Kurtulmus, speaking to reporters in Ankara, expressed hope that the agreement could become a broader pact for the Muslim world, potentially welcoming Iran's participation. The parliament speaker emphasized that the agreement is not against any specific country and aims to ensure the security of regional states amid conflicts and hostile Israeli policies.

While Ankara has previously offered to assist Riyadh in meeting its military needs, any current support would likely be bilateral and aligned with their alliance. The military leaders of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan are scheduled to meet to discuss bolstering Riyadh's defense capabilities.