Turkiye ratifies Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan

Turkiye's parliament approved the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, 279-119, committing NATO's second-largest military to aid members under attack. The pact's collective defence clause mirrors NATO's Article 5. Ratification comes as Riyadh faces escalating Houthi attacks, though Ankara says deployment would need further legislative steps and denies plans to fight the Houthis.