Mecca Pact: Syria weighs joining regional defense bloc

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced on Saturday that his government is actively discussing membership in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain, al-Shaibani confirmed that evaluations regarding Syria's entry into the alliance are currently underway. The pact, signed in the Saudi city of Mecca in August, binds Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan in a mutual defense arrangement.

The agreement establishes that an attack on any one of the three member nations will be treated as an attack on all. This structure has drawn comparisons to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which links the United States, Canada, and 30 European countries. For Syria, joining the bloc would formalize a security link with its key regional backers. Saudi Arabia, which supports the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, faces ongoing military pressure from Yemen's Houthis.

Under the current terms, Pakistan and Turkiye have committed to providing military support to Riyadh against the Iran-backed group. However, neither country has yet launched attacks on the Houthis. Turkish officials note that the ratification process for the pact is still ongoing in their country. They have clarified that future support for Riyadh would not involve deploying Turkish troops to fight in Yemen or directly attack Houthi forces.

Al-Shaibani described Damascus as an integral component of regional security. He stated that Syria would support any framework designed to protect regional stability. The minister emphasized that the region requires stronger joint deterrence and defense systems. He also expressed support for the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, which is working to restore sovereignty and stability across the country's territory while battling the Houthis.

In a separate address at the same conference, al-Shaibani highlighted ongoing tensions with Israel. He stated that Israel has carried out more than 1,000 attacks on Syria in less than two years. These strikes have killed dozens of people. Al-Shaibani questioned the logic of demanding strict border control and state monopoly on weapons while Syrian sovereignty is violated daily.

The foreign minister urged all parties to respect the unity and sovereignty of states. His remarks come as the regional security architecture shifts following the change in power in Damascus. The potential inclusion of Syria in the Mecca pact would expand the defensive perimeter of the alliance. It would also link Syria more formally to the military commitments of Turkiye and Pakistan.

The decision to join the pact remains under evaluation in Damascus. The move would align Syria with the security interests of its primary backer, Saudi Arabia. It would also place Syria within a framework that guarantees mutual military aid in the event of an external attack.