Turkish parliament has ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, clearing the way for Ankara to send military support to Riyadh amid attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia against the kingdom.

Under the agreement, approved by the Turkish lawmakers early on Friday, an attack on one party constitutes an attack on all.

Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay said the alliance is entirely about defence, and not for attacking other countries.

The agreement was approved by 279 votes to 119 in the 600-seat parliament.

The agreement was signed in the Saudi holy city of Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 7, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The agreement is open to regional countries seeking to contribute to peace, stability and security while respecting international law, territorial integrity, sovereign equality and noninterference in internal affairs, according to the memorandum.

Oktay said Türkiye would "not be drawn into an uncontrolled process against its will." He added that the deployment of troops would only be possible with future parliamentary approval.

Secretariat in Riyadh

Ministers from the grouping have already met twice — in Istanbul and in Riyadh — while high-level delegations from the three countries held talks in Tehran last month to try to avert renewed fighting in the US war on Iran.

According to the agreement, the grouping’s secretariat will be based in Saudi Arabia, and retired Pakistani General Nauman Mahmood has been selected as its first secretary-general.

He will serve a three-year term.

The pact binds the parties for 10 years, after which they would need to provide a three-month notice to leave.