Turkey votes to join Saudi and Pakistan military alliance
The agreement binds NATO's second-largest army to a collective defense clause amid ongoing Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Turkey’s legislature approved a new military alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Thursday. The vote commits the Turkish military to assist the other two nations if they face an external attack.
The parliament passed the measure with 279 votes in favor and 119 against. A total of 398 lawmakers participated in the vote within the 592-seat chamber. The agreement was signed in August and sent to parliament for approval last month.
Deputy Speaker Celal Adan adjourned the session on Wednesday after the first article was adopted. Lawmakers resumed debate on Thursday afternoon to consider the remaining provisions. The document contains 16 articles in total.
Article 1 requires signatories to use all necessary means to protect each other's territorial integrity. Article 2 specifies that if one party faces an armed attack, the others must immediately provide assistance using all available measures. This clause mirrors Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
Turkiye is a member of both NATO and this new pact. Critics have questioned how the government will allocate military resources between the two alliances. Turkish officials have dismissed these concerns as unfounded. The agreement includes provisions for increased defense industry cooperation, joint training, and intelligence sharing.
The pact is valid for ten years. Member states may withdraw after that period. Other countries can join with the approval of existing members. Syria’s government has expressed interest in becoming a signatory.
Defence Minister Yasar Guler stated in October that the scope of support for Saudi Arabia would be determined after ratification. He told Turkish media that Turkey does not foresee entering a conflict with the Houthis. Instead, Turkish support aims to strengthen deterrence.
Saudi Arabia continues to face attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Riyadh announced on Thursday that it intercepted a drone in the Medina region. The Houthis have launched deadly strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in recent months. Tensions in the region remain high due to the US-Israel war on Iran.
