Turkish Parliamentary Committee Backs Saudi, Pakistan Defence Deal
On Tuesday, a Turkish parliamentary committee approved a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The defensive pact obliges the parties to consider an armed attack against one as an attack on all three.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party and its allies supported the foreign affairs committee’s approval of the bill, despite opposition protests. The deal now goes to the full assembly for debate and a vote. The date has not been set.
The 16-article Mecca collaborative Defence Agreement also permits military collaboration, collaborative weapons manufacture, technology transfers and intelligence sharing.
Turkish state media publicised the deal, which binds the parties for 10 years.
The ministers of the grouping have already met twice – in Istanbul and in Riyadh – while high-level teams from the three countries conducted discussions in Tehran on Monday to attempt to prevent a resumption of violence in the Iran war.
Turkish government sources said they were considering offering military support to Saudi Arabia but the arrangement was defensive and no Turkish troops would be sent to fight in Yemen or assault the Houthis.
The contract, meant to boost deterrence and collaboration, does not target other nations and would serve peace and stability, said ruling Justice and Development Party legislator Fuat Oktay, who heads the committee, urging members to support it. Our country has signed and is party to agreements which are not aimed at aggression, expansionism or formation of a against third countries, Instead, our nation is a signatory to defence pacts that seek to increase deterrence, strengthen our region and promote peace and stability.
Opposition parties worried the deal may put Turkish troops in danger and drag the country into the wars of other countries.
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