Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani announced that his government is exploring the possibility of joining the Mecca Alliance, a security partnership established by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan in August.
What happened
Al-Shibani made this statement at the Manama Dialogue, a regional security conference in Bahrain, where he emphasized Syria's commitment to regional security and its potential role in the alliance. He noted that Syria has a special relationship with Turkey, which could facilitate its entry into the alliance.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, aims to create a mutual defense environment among its member states. However, the alliance has faced challenges, particularly in responding to attacks by Iran-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen against Saudi Arabia.
Al-Shibani expressed support for Saudi Arabia and the legitimate government of Yemen but did not indicate that Syria is prepared to send ground forces into Yemen. Instead, he focused on condemning Israeli airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria and emphasizing the need for regional stability.
