Syria mulls joining Mecca defence pact, foreign minister says
Syria's foreign minister says talks are under way on whether Damascus could join the Mecca Joint Defence Pact, according to The New Arab.
MANAMA — Syria's foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, confirmed on Saturday that discussions are underway to assess Syria's potential membership of the Mecca Joint Defence Pact, according to The New Arab. He spoke at the Pillars of Regional Security event at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2026. The New Arab reported the remarks on 31 October 2026.
According to the report, Shaibani said the security of the Gulf is an "integral part of Syrian regional security". He said Damascus stands with the Gulf states and their people in confronting cross-border militias. The minister gave no further details about the talks to join the pact, the outlet reported.
The Mecca pact was signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in the Muslim holy city of Mecca on 7 August, according to the report. It sets out a joint defence agreement under which an attack on one member state is considered an attack on all three.
Shaibani also condemned recent missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, the report said. He affirmed Damascus's solidarity with its partners in confronting those attacks. He also rejected the use of Syrian territory to threaten neighbouring states. He added that Syria supports Yemen's internationally recognised government in restoring its sovereignty over the country.
Why it matters
For Syria, the question is whether a regional security role would tie its armed forces to a defence commitment made by three other states. The report does not say what obligations, if any, Syria would take on. It also does not say whether the talks have a timetable.
The minister's remarks link Syria's security to the Gulf and to Yemen. According to the report, Shaibani said Syria has experience in confronting militias that intervened in the country during a 14-year war, and that this experience could be shared to strengthen regional cooperation and stability.
Background
The Mecca pact is a recent agreement. According to The New Arab, Saudi Arabia has come under attack from Yemen's Houthi rebels since the pact was signed, and has resumed fighting against the group in Yemen. The report says this has reignited the civil war there. It also says Pakistan and Turkey have not announced any attacks on the Iran-backed Houthis.
On the Golan Heights, Shaibani said Damascus's position remains firm. He cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 497, which rejects Israel's Golan Heights law and treats the annexation of the territory as null and void under international law. He also said Syria has been subjected to more than a thousand Israeli attacks in less than two years, resulting in dozens of deaths. He asked how Israel's demands for border control and weapons confiscation could be reconciled with what he described as daily violations of Syrian sovereignty. The report refers to Israel's stated justification for the attacks.
What happens next
The New Arab reported no date for a decision on Syria's membership. The minister did not say when the talks would conclude. No statement from Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Pakistan on Syria's possible membership is cited in the report.
How the story developed
- October 21, 2026Syria and Lebanon discuss refugee returns and child protection
- October 23, 2026Damascus court judge says evidence tied Bashar al-Assad to orders in ruling against him
- October 27, 2026Syria says Jordanian air strikes killed seven, disputing Amman's claim of coordination
- October 31, 2026Syria mulls joining Mecca defence pact, foreign minister says
Sources
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