Turkey Set to Seek Parliamentary Approval for Mecca Defense Pact, Paving Way for Troop Deployment to Saudi Arabia
Turkey is expected to submit the Mecca Defense Pact to parliament in the coming days, a move that could pave the way for the deployment of Turkish military forces to Saudi Arabia.
The development follows a series of reported Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including strikes aimed at Riyadh airport, Abha airport, and the Khamis Mushait air base.
According to reports, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan reached an agreement during urgent talks in Riyadh on Monday to accelerate the deployment of military personnel and equipment to the Kingdom under the defense framework.
The Turkish government now requires parliamentary approval before Turkish forces can be deployed to Saudi territory. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s governing alliance controls a parliamentary majority, making approval of the agreement likely, although the timing remains subject to the parliamentary process.
If approved, the arrangement could pave the way for one of NATO’s largest militaries to deploy forces inside Saudi Arabia and participate in the Kingdom’s defense against missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis.
The reported deployment would represent a significant expansion of the Saudi–Türkiye–Pakistan security partnership under the Mecca defense agreement.