Türkiye's parliament has approved a landmark joint defence agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, establishing a trilateral security framework that commits the three countries to treat an armed attack against any one of them as an attack against all.

The bill was approved by the Grand National Assembly on Thursday by 279 votes to 119, with 398 of the chamber's 592 lawmakers participating in the vote.

The agreement, formally known as the Mecca Agreement on Joint Defence, was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a trilateral summit in Mecca on August 7.

The parliamentary approval completes Türkiye's legislative process for the agreement, although its formal entry into force remains subject to the completion of the remaining ratification procedures and the deposit of the final ratification instrument.

During Thursday's parliamentary debate, ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldiz said the agreement was intended to strengthen regional security cooperation and prevent conflicts rather than escalate tensions.

He stressed that the pact was not directed against any third country and was based on collective security and regional stability.

Opposition lawmakers, however, raised questions about the agreement's scope, implementation and parliamentary oversight. Mehmet Guzelmansur of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called for clear safeguards to ensure that its provisions did not conflict with Türkiye's other international commitments.

The 16-article agreement stipulates that an externally originating armed attack against any of the three signatories will be considered an attack against all parties, requiring them to provide immediate assistance through available means of mutual support.

Beyond collective defence, the pact provides for expanded intelligence sharing, counterterrorism cooperation, joint military exercises, logistical assistance and closer defence industry ties.

It also establishes a Strategic Political and Defence Committee comprising the three countries' foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs to coordinate cooperation and provide strategic direction.

A permanent secretariat is to be established in Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan providing its first secretary-general for a three-year term.

The agreement will remain in force indefinitely, although a signatory may withdraw after the first 10 years by giving at least three months' written notice.

The agreement comes amid heightened regional security tensions, particularly following attacks by Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, against Saudi Arabia and growing concerns over the security of the kingdom.

Reuters reported ahead of the parliamentary vote that Türkiye's potential contribution to Saudi Arabia's defence could include military equipment, intelligence, weapons systems, technical expertise, air defence and electronic warfare capabilities.

However, parliamentary approval of the agreement does not automatically authorise the deployment of Turkish troops abroad. Any such deployment would require a separate parliamentary mandate.

Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler has previously indicated that Turkish personnel were not expected to participate in combat or offensive operations against the Houthis.

The agreement also reflects closer strategic relations between Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad, as the three countries seek to strengthen regional security arrangements and expand cooperation in defence technology and military capabilities.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already completed their respective ratification procedures, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, which confirmed in October that Türkiye was still completing its domestic approval process.

With the Turkish parliament's approval, the three signatories have moved closer to putting the trilateral defence framework into operation. (ILKHA)