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Turkiye sends Mecca defence pact with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to parliament

The trilateral pact, signed in August with 16 articles, now awaits ratification by Turkiye's parliament.

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 22:14 UTC2 reports

The short version

Turkiye has submitted the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to its parliament for ratification.[Al Jazeera]
The three-nation pact was signed in August in Mecca and contains 16 articles.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
Pakistan's Information Ministry called reports of 30,000 to 40,000 troops in Saudi Arabia speculative.[Associated Press]
Retired Pakistani Gen. Nauman Mahmood was named the pact's first secretary-general for a three-year term.[Associated Press]

The trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was submitted to the Turkish parliament for ratification.[Al Jazeera]
The pact was signed on August 7 and contains 16 articles.[Al Jazeera]
The pact was signed in Mecca in August by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.[Associated Press]
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a separate mutual defense agreement in September 2025.[Associated Press]
Pakistan's Information Ministry dismissed as speculative reports that 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistani troops had been deployed to Saudi Arabia.[Associated Press]
Retired Pakistani Gen. Nauman Mahmood was selected as the pact's first secretary-general for a three-year term.[Associated Press]

Parliamentary ratification has not been completed, and the ledger does not confirm a vote date or outcome.[Al Jazeera]
Reports of 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia are disputed; Pakistan's Information Ministry called them speculative.[Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.