The Meccan mutual defense agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is open to new members, and its expansion could follow a process similar to NATO’s accession procedure, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Levent Gümrükçü has said.

“The agreement is open to the admission of new members. The expansion of the alliance is planned in the near future. It can be carried out by a decision of three countries, following a procedure similar to NATO membership. In Türkiye, as in NATO member states, the issue will be submitted to parliament for approval,” the diplomat said, according to TASS.

Gümrükçü stressed that the Meccan Pact is not directed against any country. As a result, the founding agreement does not identify a common or specific threat as the basis for the arrangement.

The bill to ratify the Meccan agreement passed through the Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee this week. It must now receive approval from the parliament’s General Assembly to complete the legislative process.