Defense Pact: Pakistan Finalizes Ratification of Mecca Agreement
Islamabad completes legal steps for the tripartite treaty signed in August, even as Turkey continues its domestic approval process.
By Megan Greco ·
Pakistan completed the legal process to join a joint defense treaty with Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday. The move finalizes Islamabad’s side of an agreement that was initially signed in Mecca on August 7.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan stated that both Islamabad and Riyadh have finished their respective ratification procedures. Khan noted that discussions regarding the agreement's operational details are still ongoing among the three nations. The deal requires collective defense if any member state faces an external armed attack. The specific level of aid will depend on the circumstances of the threat.
Turkey has not yet finished its internal approval steps. As a result, the treaty is not yet fully active for all three signatories. The agreement was signed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A meeting of the three nations' Strategic Political and Defence Committee on October 5 pushed the deal closer to implementation. The committee urged members to execute collective defense commitments quickly. It called for the rapid deployment of military forces to Saudi Arabia, subject to each country's domestic laws.
The ratification announcement follows warnings from Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence this week. Authorities advised residents in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait to stay safe, though they did not specify the nature of the threat. The alerts coincided with Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi infrastructure.
Regional tensions have also risen in the Levant. The Israeli military announced large-scale drills in the north and center of the country for Sunday and Monday. These exercises involve the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands. The drills simulate surprise air and land attacks to test readiness for potential escalation along Israel's borders.
President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that the United States might conduct another military operation against Iran. This comes as the conflict approaches its eighth month. Reports citing US officials indicate that American and Israeli forces have prepared plans for fresh strikes after the November 3 midterm elections. Potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile capabilities.
Source: Middle East Eye
