Syria considering entry into Mecca defence pact, says foreign minister

Damascus ‘evaluating’ whether to join the alliance that binds Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.Published On 31 Oct 202631 Oct 2026Syria’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 itemslist 1 of 3What is the Mecca defence pact?list 2 of 3Yemen fighting expands as Houthis attack Saudi airport again: What to knowlist 3 of 3What help can Egypt offer Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis?end of listThe 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 ...