Turkiye’s parliament ratifies Mecca defence agreement

Turkiye’s parliament has ratified a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that includes a collective defence clause. The pact passed with 279 votes in favour and 119 against, with 398 of the chamber’s 592 lawmakers taking part. Its first article commits the signatories to use “all necessary means” to eliminate threats to one another’s territorial integrity and may be invoked if a member state is attacked. The ratification comes as Saudi Arabia continues to face attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.