Syria is discussing the possibility of joining the Mecca Defense Agreement, which unites Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. This was announced by Syria's Foreign Minister Assad al-Shabani at the "Manama Dialogue" international conference taking place in Bahrain, according to the Anadolu Agency.
"Currently, discussions are underway to evaluate the possibility of Syria's membership in the Mecca alliance," the minister said. According to him, Syria is an integral part of the regional security system and will support any mechanism aimed at ensuring stability in the region. Al-Shabani also emphasized the need to develop joint systems of deterrence and defense.
The trilateral defense agreement was announced by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in August 2026. The document stipulates that an armed attack against one of the countries will be considered an attack against all three participants. The agreement also envisages deepening cooperation in defense, exchanging intelligence data, joint training of military personnel, and collaboration between defense enterprises.
So far, Damascus has not made a decision or officially announced membership in the alliance. In August, al-Shabani already stated that Syria is studying this issue and will decide later. A possible accession would become another step toward strengthening ties between the new Syrian leadership after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024 and the regional powers.
