The "Mecca Treaty", signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on August 7 and containing a commitment to common defense against all kinds of attacks, was submitted to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as a bill in the shadow of growing public debate. The agreement, which came to the agenda of the Parliament at a time when Israeli aggression and regional tension in the Middle East was at its highest, raised the question of whether Ankara would open a new military and political front in its foreign policy.
In particular, the recent blocking of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, directly targeting Israel, by Saudi Arabian air defense systems stands out as a striking detail. In this context, criticisms that Türkiye's military support to Saudi Arabia in case of any attack and its involvement in a possible conflict could be a step that indirectly serves to ensure Israel's security and eliminate threats to Tel Aviv, considering the balances in the region, are voiced loudly in the opposition and political lobbies.
According to the information in TRT Haber, the entire agreement with 16 articles is as follows:
Article 1: "Parties" cooperate to ensure and protect each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders. In case the territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of any of the "Parties" are threatened or endangered, the "Parties" use all necessary methods to eliminate these threat(s) or danger(s).
Article 2: A foreign armed attack against any of the "Parties" is considered an attack against all "Parties". In the event that one of the "Parties" is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the "Parties" shall immediately assist the attacked "Party" by using all means of mutual assistance that they can provide to each other. For this purpose, the "Parties" decided on the scope and nature of the support to be provided following the objective evaluation of the assistance needed, in order to ensure the exercise of the right to self-defense granted by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter; They cooperate within the framework of their existing means, including military means and capabilities.
Article 3: "Parties" shall cooperate closely in the fields of defence, defense industry and security in accordance with Article 2 of this Agreement; It improves relations between the Armed Forces and implements agreed activities aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of defence.
Article 4: "Parties" shall hold regular consultations on international security matters. "Parties" continuously and effectively assist and cooperate with each other to develop individual and joint measures on the basis of common assessments in order to protect their vital interests and national security and to eliminate threats and dangers to their national security.
Article 5: "The Parties" strengthen existing cooperation and joint efforts, including at the operational level, in the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism that adversely affect regional and international stability and security.
Article 6: In war and peace, the "Parties", in order to improve their defense capabilities, encourage mutual personnel exchange between defense institutions, joint training programs and exercises, and deployments and activities aimed at increasing the interoperability of the Armed Forces of the "Parties".
Article 7: In order to strengthen defense capabilities, the "Parties", on the basis of mutual agreement, support technology sharing, joint technology development, joint production and cooperation between defense industry organizations in the following areas:
a) Encouraging joint production in the field of defense,
b) Implementation of defense innovation through joint R&D projects in technologies that require expertise,
c) Training human resources and supporting the military industry through experts of any "Party" in the territory of the "Parties",
d) Sharing expertise and lessons learned in the fields of defense R&D and innovation with the defense industry,
e) Other areas of cooperation to be mutually agreed upon by the "Parties".
Article 8: "Core Parties" establish the "Strategic Political and Defense Committee", consisting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of Staff of the "Parties", in order to give strategic direction to the common defense, to develop defense and security cooperation between the "Parties" and to address obstacles that may arise during the implementation of this Agreement. The Committee meets twice a year, hosted alternately between the "Parties". The Leaders of the "Parties" may meet once a year if deemed necessary.
The "Strategic Political and Defense Committee" may establish subcommittees if it deems necessary.
For the purpose of implementing the cooperation areas envisaged in this Agreement, agreements or protocols are negotiated between the "Parties" when necessary.
The "Strategic Political and Defense Committee", by consensus of the "Core Parties", is authorized to determine and approve the procedures and principles regarding the accession of other "Parties" to this Agreement.
A Secretariat, headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is established to serve the "Strategic Political and Defense Committee". The Secretariat concludes a headquarters agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The procedures and principles regarding the functioning, organizational structure and establishment of the Secretariat are subsequently decided by consensus of the "Core Parties".
The Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General appointed for a period of three years on a rotating basis between the "Core Parties". The first Secretary General will be a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The provisions of this article shall not prejudice the work of existing military cooperation committees between the "Parties".
Article 9: In order to deepen cooperation in the field of intelligence and to ensure the necessary coordination in this direction, the "Parties" will share intelligence through mutually agreed upon secure channels, respecting information security, data protection and confidentiality.
Article 10: "Parties" provide logistical support to each other, including weapons, ammunition, fuel, spare parts and other equipment, in peace, war and other emergency situations, subject to the availability and compatibility of logistics support services.
Article 11: Without prejudice to international law and the relevant domestic law of the "Parties", the "Parties" will accept this Agreement as the legal basis for the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement and will propose additional legal regulations if necessary.
Article 12: This Agreement does not prejudice the rights and obligations of the "Parties" arising from international agreements they have previously concluded.
Article 13: "Parties" respect the confidentiality of confidential information and documents they will obtain within the scope of this Agreement and respect national legislation.
Confidential information and documents are not shared with any government, company or person other than the "Parties".
Access to confidential information and documents is ensured on a "need to know" basis and only to individuals with the appropriate level of security clearance.
Article 14: Any dispute arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved amicably through consultations and negotiations between the "Parties".
Article 15: This Agreement may be amended by consultation and consensus between the "core Parties".
Article 16: This Agreement will be approved in accordance with the procedures to which each "Party" is subject and will enter into force on the date the final approval document is deposited with the Secretariat of the "Strategic Political and Defense Committee".
In the news from Middleeasteye, it was seen that there were different details in Article 16, the last article of the Mecca Treaty. In the news on the website, the 16th and last article of the agreement was stated as follows:
Article 16:
1. This Agreement shall be ratified in accordance with the procedures applicable to each "Party" and shall enter into force on the date the final instrument of ratification is deposited with the Secretariat of the "Strategic Political and Defense Committee".
2. This Agreement will remain in force indefinitely.
3. Any "Party" may withdraw from this Agreement after 10 years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement by giving at least three months' written notice of its intention to withdraw to the other "Parties" through diplomatic channels.
4. Termination of or withdrawal from this Agreement shall not affect ongoing activities or projects agreed upon between the Parties prior to the date of termination or withdrawal.
5. The parties' responsibilities regarding the protection of confidential information and documents and preventing their disclosure shall continue after the termination of this Agreement or withdrawal from the Agreement.
This Agreement is signed in three originals in the Turkish, Arabic and English languages, each text being equally valid. If there is a difference in interpretation between the texts, the English text will prevail.
This Agreement was signed in Mecca on Friday, August 7, 2026 (24/2/1448 Hijri).
