Politics
Turkish Parliament set to debate Mecca deal bill
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee will begin deliberations on Tuesday on the Mecca Defense Alliance. The bill on the ratification of the alliance will be presented to lawmakers, including opposition members, who have argued that the deal cannot be implemented and that Türkiye cannot dispatch troops to other countries before Parliament ratifies the agreement signed in Saudi Arabia last August.
The main opposition New Party (YP) has already announced that it would vote against the bill, but it is expected to pass with the votes of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and its government ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has signaled that it may endorse the bill, though it remains skeptical of the deal. Its leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, remarked last week that the party would oppose it if it found “even a single clause running against the interests of Türkiye.”
Türkiye has no plans to engage Yemen’s Houthi rebels in combat under its trilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said Friday, stressing that any Turkish military support for Riyadh would focus on strengthening deterrence and preventing further regional escalation.
“We absolutely do not envisage entering into any clashes with the Houthis,” Güler told Star TV, emphasizing that Türkiye’s priority was to prevent new tensions and contribute to regional security and stability.
He said potential Turkish military assistance to Saudi Arabia would follow a model similar to Ankara’s existing military cooperation with Qatar, focusing primarily on deterrence rather than direct involvement in hostilities.
“In this context, as in Qatar, the primary objective of our potential military support for Saudi Arabia would be to strengthen deterrence,” Güler said.
The agreement, which commits the three countries to regard an armed attack against one member as an attack against all, has raised questions about the extent of Türkiye’s potential military involvement amid continued Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
Güler clarified that the scope of any Turkish assistance would be determined only after Parliament ratifies the agreement and the necessary legal procedures are completed.
He said Ankara would then evaluate Saudi Arabia’s requests within the framework of parliamentary authorization before deciding on the nature and extent of its support.
The minister reiterated that Türkiye’s approach was aimed at strengthening collective security while avoiding actions that could trigger further military confrontation in the region.
Ibrahim Kalın, director of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), will join officials from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Ankara’s partners in the Mecca Defense Alliance, in a visit to Tehran, an Iranian official said on Monday. Turkish sources speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) also confirmed the participation of Kalın to the talks, which, according to Iranian media outlets, will be held on Monday. The talks will focus on “regional security.”
“As agreed, Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief General Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın will participate in this meeting,” said Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. He said the meeting will be held with Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei.
“This four-party meeting in Tehran could represent an important and effective step towards building lasting regional security, and we hope this initiative will contribute to establishing a stable region,” said Kani in an interview with state television, without elaborating.
He said that the meeting was proposed during a visit by Pakistani army chief Asim Munir to Tehran last week.
War has engulfed the Middle East since February when the United States and Israel launched a wave of surprise attacks on Iran, while Washington and Tehran were in the midst of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
An April cease-fire brought an end to the initial phase of intense bombardment but the two sides have continued to vie for control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to travel.
Iran has since claimed control over the strait and has regularly targeted vessels that attempt to cross without its authorization, while the United States has imposed a naval counterblockade on Iranian ports.
Diplomatic efforts with the U.S. remain stalled, especially since the collapse of a June deal which laid out a pathway to a permanent settlement of the conflict.
The war has since spread across the region to include fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said the meeting is part of ongoing efforts by the Mecca Pact countries to de-escalate the current crisis, promote diplomatic solutions, and support mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan. “The visit also underscores the pivotal role of the Mecca Pact states in fostering regional security and stability, and their commitment to working with all nations in the region toward achieving this goal,” Krimly posted on X. Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman will represent Saudi Arabia at the meeting.
The meeting is the first high-level contact between the alliance members and Iranian officials. The Alliance has denied that it was founded to counter Iran’s influence in the region and signaled it was open to new members.
Attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have spiralled in recent weeks, and rhetoric between Washington and Tehran has grown more heated. Both countries have also drawn up plans to restart the wider war, possibly after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday discussions on regional security would include “Israel’s expansionist policies, developments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the repercussions of U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.”
Baghaei said the meeting could be a first step toward establishing regional security mechanisms based on the interests of countries in the region. Qatari mediators met Iranian officials in Tehran on Sunday in a push to de-escalate regional tensions, Reuters reported. Qatar has, for months, played a mediating role between Tehran and Washington.
A senior Iranian official said the meeting was initiated by Pakistan, during Munir’s visit to Tehran, as he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. During the visit, Iranian officials told him there would be no talks with Washington until Tehran’s demands were met, according to Iranian media. Earlier mediation efforts involving both Pakistan and Qatar helped produce an interim peace agreement in June, but the deal quickly unravelled as fighting between Iran and the United States resumed weeks later.
Saudi Arabia intercepted another wave of missiles and drones on Sunday as fighting with the Houthis continued unabated. Ministers from the Mecca Pact countries held an emergency meeting in Riyadh earlier this month and agreed to ensure the “rapid deployment” of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi attacks have become an increasingly destabilizing element in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, turning U.S. ally Saudi Arabia into a pressure point in the wider war.
The Mecca agreement’s first article says the parties shall use “all necessary means” to eliminate threats to one another’s territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognized borders.
The Turkish Parliament will start debates to ratify the agreement on Tuesday, while Pakistan approved the pact last week.
Iran said Monday it had reached an understanding with Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that regional security should be maintained by countries in the region rather than foreign powers, following high-level talks in Tehran focused on strengthening cooperation and addressing shared security challenges.
Iran and three other countries participating in the Mecca pact — Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan — agreed that regional security should be ensured without foreign intervention, a senior Iranian official said Monday.
“The outcomes we agreed on were that security in the region where we live should be endogenous, meaning it should be achieved by the countries themselves, and that we must prevent any kind of foreign intervention in this region,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said following the meeting.
The four-way talks in Tehran brought together senior officials to discuss regional security, Israel’s activities in the Middle East and developments in Palestine and Lebanon.
Türkiye was represented by National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın, Saudi Arabia by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Pakistan by army chief Asim Munir.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also attended the meeting.
Earlier Monday, Pezeshkian expressed Tehran’s readiness to deepen regional cooperation and resolve disputes, calling for greater unity among Muslim-majority countries, according to state news agency IRNA.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, with firm conviction and serious determination, is ready to take steps toward deepening regional cooperation, resolving differences and drawing on the shared capabilities of Islamic countries,” Pezeshkian said.
He emphasized that Tehran supported initiatives aimed at promoting regional solidarity, stability and economic development.
The Iranian president also said Muslim countries could harness their collective resources and capabilities to present a model of justice and development to the international community.
The meeting underscored efforts by the four countries to strengthen regional coordination amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.
Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia are preparing to announce a joint project focused on technical military training and research and development under the recently signed Badr agreement, marking a step toward implementing their defense cooperation framework, according to a report by the Sabah newspaper.
The agreement, aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships and regional cooperation, establishes a framework designed to move joint initiatives from planning to implementation.
Under the mechanism, an Executive Board will identify joint projects involving the four countries, while a Strategic Board will approve the proposals and establish implementation timelines.
The structure defines responsibilities, approval procedures and project schedules from the outset, allowing cooperation to move beyond declarations of intent toward practical implementation.
Signed on Oct. 21, the Badr pact is aimed at boosting defense cooperation and strengthening the four countries’ defensive capabilities. It will also support military exercises and training and cooperation on research and development (R&D) and contribute to joint efforts to improve their defense industries.
The memorandum further provides a framework for defense and aviation cooperation, including technical military training and research and development.
According to the report, the four countries are expected to announce a joint project in these areas soon, marking one of the agreement’s first concrete outcomes.
The initiative reflects Türkiye’s broader policy of promoting regional ownership and strengthening cooperation among partner countries through institutionalized mechanisms.
The Badr agreement is expected to facilitate coordinated projects and deepen strategic cooperation among the four participating nations.
In August, Türkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with nuclear-armed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Under the pact, an attack on one party is considered an attack on all. Ankara also has close ties with Indonesia, notably in the defense industry.
The approval of a landmark deal between Türkiye and Libya seven years after it was signed has shaken neighboring Greece, which has sought to expand its influence in the Mediterranean. The memorandum of understanding on maritime jurisdiction areas was approved by Libya’s House of Representatives earlier this month, opening a new chapter in Turkish-Libyan relations and strengthening Türkiye’s influence in the region.
Greece has long opposed the memorandum, fearing that Türkiye could gain greater influence in the Mediterranean. Athens views Türkiye as a historic rival, even as Ankara pursues rapprochement with Greece, and the deal could further complicate the maritime dispute between the two countries in the Aegean Sea.
The approval of the memorandum is being viewed as a political defeat for Greece and, as Greek newspaper Kathimerini put it, a “defeat that is difficult to recover from.” The newspaper said the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was particularly troubled by comments criticizing Greece’s response to the development. It recalled remarks by ruling New Democracy Party lawmaker Dimitris Kalogeropoulos, who said “we’re in deep trouble” last week in reference to Libya’s approval of the deal, and fellow lawmaker Dimitris Keridis, who described the development as a “political defeat.”
The newspaper argued that Keridis’ remarks, made by a lawmaker who is also a professor of international relations, caused greater concern at the prime minister’s office than Kalogeropoulos’ comments.
“Part of the reason for this concern was that Keridis not only has an academic perspective but also serves as New Democracy’s parliamentary spokesperson. The prime minister’s office would have preferred Keridis to be more careful in his remarks,” the report said.
The Greek opposition described the development as a failure of the government’s foreign policy.
Greece has also sought U.S. support to counter the memorandum.
Dissatisfied with the Donald Trump administration’s seemingly neutral stance, the Greek lobby stepped up pressure on Washington. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it called on the administration to take a stand against Ankara and Tripoli.
The Hellenic American Leadership Council outlined four demands in the letter, including a call for Washington to declare that the memorandum has no legal consequences for third countries such as Greece.
The group also sought U.S. support for Greece’s claims to maritime jurisdiction areas based on its islands. Citing the exploration activities of American companies, the letter called on Washington not to allow objections from Türkiye and Libya to obstruct those activities. It further urged the United States to adopt a common position with the European Union.
Athens is expected to continue its efforts in New York. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis is expected to raise the issue during his engagements with the United Nations Security Council.
Meanwhile, Türkiye is working to reunify Libya and promote stability in the North African country. Ankara’s efforts to end the division between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and the Benghazi-based Government of National Stability and bring the country’s institutions under a single authority have evolved into an intensive diplomatic push.
Libyan Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Abdussalam Zubi and Libyan National Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gen. Saddam Haftar met in Ankara last Friday. Discussions focused on unifying the Libyan army, establishing a joint military command in Sirte and implementing a military framework developed under a U.S. initiative.
According to the news website Libya Observer, a draft plan centered on military integration was discussed during the Ankara talks, which were also monitored by representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Qatar. The draft envisages making Sirte the headquarters of a joint military command, abolishing the title of “Commander-in-Chief” held by Khalifa Haftar and establishing a new “Army General Command Council” co-chaired by Zubi and Saddam Haftar. It also proposes creating a “Southern Protection Force” under the Defense Ministry.
The arrangement, which would suspend the position of commander-in-chief until elections are held, aims to prevent decision-making authority from being concentrated in a single office.
According to reports by Araby al-Jadeed and Arabic Post, the main sticking points in the negotiations concerned which authority the institutions would report to and the nature of the agreement. Zubi called for the army to be placed under the Defense Ministry and for only a military agreement to be signed, while Haftar insisted that the structure report to the Presidential Council and that political and military agreements be signed simultaneously. The deadlock was overcome after Türkiye and the UAE assured Haftar that a political agreement would be concluded at a later stage, and the parties agreed to prioritize a military accord.
As part of efforts to ease tensions between Tripoli and Benghazi, Al-Salhin Abdelnabi, speaker of the House of Representatives in Benghazi, is also expected to make a three-day official visit to Tripoli on Oct. 27 to meet with officials from the Government of National Unity. Abdelnabi was elected speaker in early October, replacing Aguila Saleh, who had held the position for 12 years.
Turkish authorities arrested six suspects in an investigation coordinated with the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) that uncovered a Daesh financial network operating between Türkiye and Syria, prosecutors said Monday.
The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, revealed financial transactions totaling millions of Turkish liras, including funds allegedly intended to help Daesh members escape from the al-Hol detention camp in northeastern Syria.
The probe gained momentum after authorities recovered a USB flash drive in Türkiye’s southeastern Kilis province, near the Syrian border. The device contained internal Daesh correspondence, financial records and digital money transfer receipts.
Investigators also examined statements from a senior Daesh financial operative and reports from foreign intelligence agencies, identifying suspected links between the terrorist group and two international money transfer networks, Al Barakat and AFAK.
Suspicious transactions
Financial analyses conducted by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) revealed that the six suspects’ bank accounts received approximately TL 38.6 million (nearly $ 800,000), while outgoing transactions totaled TL 33.7 million.
One suspect, Mohmad Al Nhass, allegedly received TL 14.9 million and transferred TL 13.6 million. Investigators also identified financial connections between Al Nhass and 28 individuals with terrorism-related records.
Authorities also identified suspicious transfers involving Abdulkadir Ayd and Ward Daafis, including transactions labeled as charitable donations and the use of cryptocurrency exchanges.
Links to al-Hol escapes
Investigators found that accounts belonging to Ahmad Alkhlil, also known as Ahmet Halil, allegedly served as channels for funds collected to facilitate the escape of Daesh members held at the al-Hol camp in Syria while it was controlled by the YPG/PKK terrorist group.
Since 2017, the camp has been under the control of the U.S.-backed PKK/YPG affiliate in Syria. On Jan. 20, Syrian security forces regained control of the area surrounding al-Hol camp following the withdrawal of the terrorist group.
Financial records also showed discrepancies between Alkhlil’s declared business activities and banking transactions. His food company’s reported annual turnover was just TL 23,000 despite substantial movements through associated accounts.
Prosecutors also identified TL 38.6 million through conventional banking channels represented only a fraction of the network’s overall financial activity.
Investigators said the suspected network also used informal money transfer mechanisms and specially generated internet links designed to conceal senders’ identities and circumvent banking oversight.
All six suspects were arrested and jailed pending trial following judicial proceedings.
The investigation highlights Turkish authorities’ continuing efforts to disrupt suspected Daesh financing operations and cross-border financial networks linked to the terrorist group.
Barely two months after YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK, announced dissolution following integration into Syrian security forces, another part of the PKK apparently follows the example. Sinjar Resistance Units or YBS, an offshoot of the group active in the eponymous Iraqi region, will disarm and integrate into the Iraqi army under the supervision of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, an Iraqi official said Monday.
Sabah al-Numan, military spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister, said procedures to reorganize military ties between the group and Iraqi security forces would be carried out on Monday, according to a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency. He said members of the group would be integrated into Iraqi security institutions. The move would also transfer security responsibility for Sinjar Mountain to the relevant federal government authorities, al-Numan said. He added that the step was part of the Iraqi government’s policy to bring all weapons under state control. The implementation would mark the beginning of a new phase in security arrangements in the Sinjar district, he said. Al-Numan also noted that the Iraqi Constitution prohibits the formation of armed groups outside the country’s official armed forces.
The PKK announced its disarmament and dissolution last year following the launch of the terror-free Türkiye initiative in 2024. The initiative was proposed by the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli, a government ally. Both Bahçeli and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly said that the initiative was part of the ambition of a “terror-free region,” that is, eliminating terror threats not just for Türkiye but also for regional countries, such as Syria.
YBS was originally founded in 2007 but rose to prominence as a force claiming to fight against Daesh, which launched an offensive to capture Sinjar in 2014.
Iraq is coordinating closely with Türkiye to remove the PKK terrorist group from its territory, a government spokesperson said last week, pledging that Iraqi soil would never be used to threaten neighboring countries. Iraqi government spokesperson Haider Abboudi told the country’s official INA news agency that Baghdad was maintaining high-level coordination with Ankara to resolve the PKK issue and ensure the terrorist group’s removal from Iraq. Abboudi stressed that Iraq would not allow its territory to serve as a base for threats against neighboring states.
On Oct. 12, Turkish security sources said the PKK had evacuated four accommodation areas in Metina, a region in northern Iraq, as a process aimed at the group’s full disarmament continued. The statements confirmed remarks by a senior PKK figure who claimed the group had left tunnels in Metina on Oct. 8. Sources said the Hebat, Yajk, Sabri and Sason shelter areas in Metina’s Baze region were evacuated on Oct. 8, while Turkish media outlets broadcast footage showing PKK members leaving the areas, which served as terrorist hideouts. The footage showed empty tunnels and members of the group walking away with their belongings. Earlier, Murat Karayılan, a senior PKK figure, said in an interview that the group had completed its withdrawal from Metina to demonstrate that it posed no threat to Türkiye. Karayılan also claimed that the PKK had ordered its clandestine units in major cities, including Istanbul, to withdraw. Security sources said the shelter areas had posed a security risk to Türkiye and described the PKK’s withdrawal as decisive progress in the process.
The sources described the move as an indication that the process was continuing, saying efforts under the initiative were aimed at strengthening regional stability and reinforcing Turkish-Kurdish fraternity.
Following the termination of the PKK’s activities in all areas, members of the group who return to Türkiye under prospective legal arrangements are expected to undergo a social integration process. Comprehensive programs in areas including education and the economy are also planned to facilitate their reintegration into society. The sources said the broader process aims to establish lasting domestic peace in Türkiye and enable all segments of society to live together in peace and security. They added that steps taken under the initiative were intended to strengthen regional stability and social cohesion.
Bahçeli, who has long taken a hard-line stance against the PKK and previously called for the execution of its jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, argued that the group’s dissolution would serve Turkish-Kurdish unity amid growing threats to Türkiye’s security and existence. Öcalan responded to Bahçeli’s call by instructing the PKK to lay down its arms. The group complied in 2025, beginning to destroy its weapons at a ceremony in northern Iraq in a symbolic move. Since then, Turkish intelligence has been monitoring progress toward full disarmament. Meanwhile, the Turkish Parliament passed legislation in August providing for the deferral of sentences and prosecution for PKK members who were not involved in deadly terrorist acts.
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye rules out fight against Houthis under Saudi defense pact: Güler
-
Economy2 days agoEarnings reports, Fed decision to dominate busy week for markets
-
Politics1 day agoFrance reportedly mulls postponing Med grid after Türkiye-Libya deal
-
Politics1 day agoTurkish opposition parties’ cash row grows
-
Politics21 hours agoYemen hails strong ties with Türkiye, its role in region
-
Economy1 day agoReady for French test?: 5 questions for European Central Bank
-
Sports3 days agoMadrid’s Mourinho rejects Barcelona comparisons ahead of Clasico
-
Politics2 days agoNew attack on Iran risks wider war, diplomacy only solution: FM Fidan