Ankara, 6 November, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Türkiye’s parliament has ratified the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, marking a significant development in efforts to strengthen defence cooperation and regional security among the three countries. According to Turkish media reports, the agreement secured 279 votes in favour and 119 against, with 398 members participating in the vote in the 600-seat parliament. The Chairman of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee described the agreement as entirely defensive in nature, stressing that it was not aimed at any other country and did not seek to initiate an attack. Ziya Altunyaldiz, a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said the pact was designed to promote security cooperation and contribute to regional stability. The agreement was signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the agreement seeks to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three states would be regarded as an attack against all of them. It also provides for enhanced cooperation across various areas of defence. The signing took place during a visit to Saudi Arabia by the Turkish president and Pakistani prime minister, who were received by the Saudi crown prince at the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence. The leaders reviewed the longstanding relations among the three countries and discussed matters of mutual interest. The agreement builds on their historical ties, shared Islamic solidarity, common strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation.