Syria weighs joining Mecca defence pact amid regional security shifts

Regional security architecture is shifting as new actors seek formal alliances. Syria’s government is currently evaluating whether to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, according to its foreign minister.

Asaad al-Shaibani made the announcement while speaking at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain on Saturday. He stated that discussions are underway to assess the terms of Syria’s potential entry into the pact. The agreement was signed in August in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan.

The core of the Mecca pact operates on a collective security model. An attack on any one signatory nation is treated as an attack on all three members. Analysts have drawn comparisons between this arrangement and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which binds the United States, Canada, and 30 European nations.

Saudi Arabia serves as a primary financial and political backer for the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This administration took control in December 2024 following the removal of former leader Bashar al-Assad. Riyadh faces ongoing military pressure from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group.

Despite the shared threat, the existing signatories have not yet launched direct military strikes against the Houthis. Turkish officials note that their ratification process is still ongoing. They have clarified that any future support for Riyadh would not involve deploying Turkish troops to fight in Yemen or directly attacking Houthi positions.

Al-Shaibani described Syria as an integral component of regional stability. He emphasized that the area requires stronger joint deterrence and defence systems. Damascus expressed support for the Saudi-backed government in Yemen as it works to restore sovereignty across its territory.

The minister also addressed the role of Israel in the region. He stated that Israeli forces have carried out more than 1,000 attacks on Syria in less than two years. These strikes have resulted in dozens of deaths. Al-Shaibani questioned how other nations can demand strict border control and state monopoly on weapons while Syrian sovereignty faces daily violations.