Syria weighs joining Mecca defense pact

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced that his government is evaluating entry into the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain.

The pact was signed in August in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan. The agreement stipulates that an attack on one signatory is treated as an attack on all three. Observers have drawn comparisons between this framework and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance.

Saudi Arabia currently faces escalating attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen. Riyadh is a primary supporter of the Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. That administration took power in December 2024 following the fall of former leader Bashar al-Assad.

Under the current terms, Turkiye and Pakistan have pledged military support to Riyadh. However, neither country has launched attacks against the Houthis. Turkish officials note that the ratification process is still underway. They stated that future support would not involve deploying Turkish troops to fight in Yemen.

Al-Shaibani described Syria as an integral part of regional security. He stated that Damascus would support any framework designed to protect regional stability. The minister emphasized that the region requires joint deterrence and defense systems more than ever.

Syria also supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government in its effort to restore sovereignty across its territory. Al-Shaibani urged all parties to respect the unity and sovereignty of states in the region.

The minister addressed recent 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 how border control could be justified while Syrian sovereignty is violated daily.