Ankara:Turkey has completed preparations to submit the Mecca defense agreement to parliament for approval. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the pact is defensive in nature and does not authorize offensive military actions against other countries.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan announced at a joint news conference with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban that the necessary work for the agreement to be presented to parliament has been finalized. He had made a final presentation to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and confirmed that the agreement would be sent to parliament as soon as possible.
The agreement, Fidan explained, provides for mutual defense among its signatories in the event of an attack. "Once a country that is a party to the agreement is attacked, you stand by it for its defense. This is not an attack agreement," he said, clarifying that Turkey will not send troops to another country's territory to carry out an attack.
Fidan stated that Turkey's involvement in the recent meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense in Riyadh was primarily due to attacks on Saudi Arabia. The meeting addressed issues such as the structure of the military headquarters, the status of the secretariat, and the appointment of a new secretary. Despite the agreement being relatively new, institutionalization and practical steps have progressed rapidly, showing the parties' determination for concrete results. Discussions also included potential Turkish contributions to Saudi Arabia's defense against attacks by Yemen's Houthi group.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan warned against its expansion into the Black Sea, which he described as a key threat to regional and global stability. Turkey has been active in preventing this, citing its efforts through the Montreux Convention and the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Fidan noted that increased military operations by both Russia and Ukraine are impacting navigational safety in the Black Sea, affecting Turkish vessels and contributing to global food security issues due to disrupted grain shipments.
On the topic of Gaza, Fidan stated that Turkey is working through diplomatic channels to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace. This includes delivering humanitarian aid, facilitating the Palestinian National Committee's governance of Gaza, and deploying the International Stabilization Force. He urged for renewed international pressure on Israel to implement the Gaza Peace Plan and highlighted Turkey's continued diplomatic efforts to address the broader regional conflict, including issues in the West Bank and at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Turkey envisions a peace plan involving Israel, Palestine, and regional countries, but emphasized the need for intensive diplomatic efforts, especially with Israel, to reach a resolution.