Revealed: Full text of Makkah defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan
The National obtained the full text of the Makkah Defence Pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan after it was submitted to the Turkish parliament for approval. A Turkish source confirmed the text as authentic; it had not been made public when the agreement was signed in August, and the pact has a Nato-style mutual defence clause. Turkey's parliament must approve the pact before it becomes legally binding, though some articles have already been enacted, including the appointment of a secretary general and the establishment of a central Strategic Political and Defence Committee; the three countries held an emergency meeting this month to arrange rapid deployment of military forces to Saudi Arabia as it comes under attack by Houthi rebels.
Why it matters: The pact's Nato-style mutual defence clause and the parliamentary approval process make this a defence and security matter for the three states and their regional commitments.