Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Damascus is weighing whether to join a defense pact linking Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, which would add Syria to the three-country arrangement.
The governments signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca on Aug. 7. The joint statement says an armed assault against any of the three countries would be regarded as directed at the entire group. EconoTimes previously reported that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had completed ratification of the pact while Türkiye’s parliamentary review was underway.
Anadolu Ajansı reported Saturday, citing the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), that al-Shaibani spoke during a regional security session at the Manama Dialogue 2026. He said Syria supports regional frameworks aimed at preserving stability. He described the development of joint deterrence and defense systems as more necessary for the region than at any previous time.
