Syria considering entry into Mecca defence pact

A move to join Saudi Arabia’s agreement with Turkey and Pakistan could entangle more countries in the kingdom’s escalating conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis.

Damascus 'evaluating' whether to join the alliance that binds Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Listen (2 mins) Save Share Syria considering entry into Mecca defence pact, says foreign minister on social media Share Add on Google Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani speaks during a plenary session of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2026 in Manama, Bahrain, October 31 [AFP] By AFP and Anadolu Published On 31 Oct 2026 31 Oct 2026 Syria’s government is weighing whether to enter into a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, the country’s top diplomat says.

“Discussions are currently under way to evaluate Syria’s entry into the Mecca alliance,” Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain on Saturday. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 What is the Mecca defence pact?

List 2 of 3 Yemen fighting expands as Houthis attack Saudi airport again: What to know list 3 of 3 What help can Egypt offer Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis? End of list The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan in the Saudi city of Mecca in August.

It states that an attack on one country is to be considered an attack on all three, and has been compared to the NATO security alliance that binds the United States, Canada and 30 European countries. Saudi Arabia, under heavy fire from Yemen’s Houthis, is a key backer of Syria’s government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which came to power after the fall of former strongman Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Under the Mecca pact, Pakistan and Turkiye have pledged military support to Riyadh as it faces escalating attacks from the Iran-backed group. Neither Islamabad nor Ankara has yet announced any attacks on the Houthis.

Government officials in Turkiye, where the pact’s ratification process is ongoing, have said any future military support for Riyadh would not include deploying Turkish troops to fight in Yemen or attack the Houthis. Speaking at the conference in Bahrain, al-Shaibani said Damascus was an “integral” part of regional security and would support any framework aimed at protecting regional stability.

The minister stressed that the region was “in greater need than ever” of developing joint deterrence and defence systems.