Syria in Talks to Join Makkah Security Pact, Foreign Minister Reveals

Syria views the security of the Gulf region as intrinsically linked to its own and is currently engaged in discussions regarding its potential accession to the Makkah agreement, stated Foreign Minister Assad Al Shaibani during the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on Saturday. "Regarding Makkah pact integration, there are some negotiations on this issue and regardless of whether it is in the pact or not, or any other pact, Syria is part of the security of this region and it'll stand by any organisation that protects the security of this area," he remarked, emphasizing the critical need for collaborative efforts in deterrence and defense. Mr. Shaibani highlighted Syria's "very special" relationship with Turkey, a signatory to the Makkah agreement alongside Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and noted the shared economic and military collaboration between Syria and Turkey. The Makkah pact, established in August, operates on the principle that an attack on one member state is considered an attack on all. This pact emerged two months prior to the Iran-backed Houthis launching significant attacks on multiple Saudi Arabian airports in recent weeks. In response, Saudi Arabia has been actively seeking to strengthen international backing for its campaign against the Houthi rebels. Earlier this month, Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa visited Saudi Arabia. While the Syrian government has consistently underscored the importance of Gulf security to its own national security, it has refuted claims that Saudi Arabia requested Syrian ground troops for operations in Yemen. Experts suggest that the Makkah pact represents a significant long-term development in regional security, though it is not presently deployed in the Yemen conflict. In a recent diplomatic effort, the three Makkah pact member states visited Tehran with the objective of de-escalating regional tensions amid concerns of a broader conflict between the United States and Iran. According to a security source speaking to The National, this visit aimed to establish a third communication channel, distinct from the existing mediation efforts by Pakistan and Qatar.