Ankara: Trkiye's Communications Directorate has rejected claims circulating on social media that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan conflicts with Article 5 of the NATO treaty or creates a parallel military alliance. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty is NATO's collective defence clause, under which an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.
According to TRTworld.com, in a statement on Turkish social platform NSosyal, the Directorate's Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) described the allegations as "entirely false" and "a perception management campaign whose source is readily apparent." The DMM emphasized that the agreement does not contradict Trkiye's existing international alliance commitments, including its obligations within NATO, but rather serves as a complementary mechanism supporting regional security.
"Trkiye's efforts to develop regional partnerships are not an alternative to its NATO membership," the statement further clarified. It added that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is "not an aggressive military bloc but a defence-oriented arrangement designed to enhance deterrence."
The DMM also stated that the agreement does not target any third country or bloc and instead seeks to promote cooperation in the defence industry, military training, technology sharing, and efforts to strengthen regional stability. The centre urged the public not to give credence to "unfounded claims and manipulative posts."
The statement followed comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said that the agreement, signed in Mecca with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, targets no country and remains open to other friendly nations seeking peace, prosperity, and stability in the region. Erdogan emphasized that the pact, based on the principle of collective deterrence, would strengthen defence cooperation, joint defence industry projects, and counterterrorism efforts, while reaffirming Trkiye's commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy based on international law.