Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification process for the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, while Turkiye is carrying out the necessary procedures under its domestic legal framework, the Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the agreement in August. Under its provisions, an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all three parties.
The agreement has gained importance amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Earlier this week, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan was providing “whatever support is needed” to defend the Kingdom.
During its weekly press briefing, the Foreign Office said discussions on the agreement’s ratification and implementation were continuing among the three countries. These discussions also took place during a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC) held on October 5.
FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the agreement reflected the shared commitment of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to strengthening collective defence and promoting regional security and stability.
He explained that each country followed its own constitutional and legal procedures for approving international agreements. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had completed their ratification processes, while Turkiye was undertaking the required steps under its domestic legal framework. Turkiye submitted the agreement to its parliament for ratification earlier this week.
The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to the agreement, describing it as defensive in nature, consistent with the United Nations Charter and aimed at promoting regional peace, security and stability.
Responding to a question about Article 2, which treats an attack on one member as an attack against all, Andrabi said the agreement was consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises the right to individual and collective self-defence.
He stressed that the pact was not directed against any particular country but provided a framework for collective assistance in the event of external armed aggression against any of the three members.
According to the spokesperson, the nature and extent of any assistance would be determined collectively by the three countries after an objective assessment of the circumstances.
Andrabi also rejected speculation about undisclosed provisions, stating that the agreement was explicit and that Pakistan endorsed the text made public through the Turkish parliament.
Asked whether the agreement could be invoked in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, he said the matter would be decided by the three partner countries in accordance with the pact.
The spokesperson expressed concern over the Houthi attacks and their potential implications for regional peace and security. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Yemen’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, adding that a lasting resolution to the conflict could only be achieved through dialogue and a negotiated political settlement.
At the same time, he condemned attacks against Saudi Arabia and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. He also expressed support for diplomatic efforts aimed at ending hostilities and securing a sustainable political settlement.
Earlier this month, the Foreign Office announced that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had agreed to rapidly deploy military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia. The decision followed an emergency meeting of the SPDC in Riyadh, established under the trilateral defence agreement.
Although the announcement did not identify a specific threat, it came amid escalating tensions linked to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as part of the Yemen conflict. The Houthis and their adversaries have continued exchanging strikes since the group took control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait during an offensive in September.
