Show caption: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, meets the Emir…
Turkey and Qatar agreed to consult on threats to their security and on regional and global defence issues
Turkey’s law approving the Makkah Defence Pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan took effect on Saturday, a day after Ankara signed a separate mutual defence agreement with Qatar.
The law was published in Turkey’s official gazette, completing the country’s legislative approval process for the trilateral pact. It comes after the Turkish parliament ratified the agreement on November 5 by 279 votes to 119.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Makkah Defence Pact in August amid regional tensions. It aims to strengthen military co-ordination, intelligence sharing and defence industry co-operation.
Modelled after Nato’s Article 5, the agreement hinges on the understanding that an attack on one country is considered an attack on all. But its implementation has come under scrutiny amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has come under intensified Houthi attacks in recent weeks, including deadly strikes on airports that have disrupted air travel and prompted the cancellation or postponement of major international conferences, diplomatic summits and sporting events in the kingdom. The Houthis have also claimed attacks on Saudi energy and military targets.
The pact gives the kingdom a collective defence commitment from Turkey, home to Nato’s second-largest army. However, Ankara has ruled out deploying troops to fight the Iran-backed Houthis under the Makkah Defence Pact, according to Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler.
The pact is among several defence agreements reached in the region since the Iran war broke out in late February.
Turkey and Qatar signed a mutual defence agreement on Friday aimed at strengthening collective defence and promoting regional security. The two countries also pledged a unified stance against any external armed attack targeting either country, according to a joint statement.
The announcement came after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim in Istanbul.
The two sides agreed to consult on threats to their security and on regional and global defence issues, expand joint military exercises and personnel training exchanges, and deepen co-operation between their defence industries.
The agreement reflects the two countries' commitment to safeguarding their sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their shared vision of a more secure and stable regional order, Turkey and Qatar said in the joint statement.
"President Erdogan stated that we would continue working together to prevent the resurgence of war in the Gulf region and establish a basis for dialogue and achieve peace," the Turkish presidency said in a statement on X.
The two countries said they were also ready to expand energy co-operation.
Updated:
November 14, 2026, 6:19 AM
Source: The National · Fatima Al Mahmoud
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