Türkiye plans mandate to deploy military personnel to Saudi Arabia under Mecca pact

In a follow-up to yesterday’s report that Türkiye had submitted the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to parliament for ratification, an AKP lawmaker told Reuters on Wednesday that Ankara will now seek a parliamentary mandate allowing military personnel to be deployed to Saudi Arabia under the pact (https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/turkey-planning-mandate-to-send-military-personnel-to-saudi-arabia-under-mecca-pact-2026-10-21/).

The mandate goes to parliament once the ratification bill is approved. Türkiye submitted the agreement, signed on 7 August by President Erdogan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to parliament for ratification on Tuesday (Oct 20) (https://www.geo.tv/latest/687630-turkiye-plans-mandate-to-send-military-personnel-to-saudi-arabia-says-ruling-party-official).

The lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no Turkish troops deployed under the pact would take part in offensive operations. Technical personnel and experts would go first to assist with air defences, electronic warfare technologies and other defensive support (https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/turkey-planning-mandate-to-send-military-personnel-to-saudi-arabia-under-mecca-pact-2026-10-21/).

Two officials told Reuters that Türkiye’s contribution was expected to be limited to military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems, and that there had been no deployment under the alliance so far (https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636107/turkey-plans-mandate-to-send-military-personnel-to-saudi-arabia-ruling-party-official-says).

Türkiye has also condemned Houthi attacks and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to ensure navigational safety in the Red Sea (https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/turkey-plans-mandate-to-send-military-personnel-to-saudi-arabia-ruling-party-official-says).