Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş: Mecca Joint Defense Agreement will evolve into a beneficial pact

Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş attended the 96th National Day Reception of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held at a hotel in Ankara. Pointing out that Turkey and Saudi Arabia are two important countries of the Islamic world, Kurtulmuş stated that the two countries are brotherly nations as states and peoples.

Emphasizing that the positive process that began following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Saudi Arabia is continuing to grow, Kurtulmuş said, "We are in a period where extraordinary upheavals prevail in the world. Unfortunately, we are in a period where conflicts and tensions prevail all over the world. We see with regret that these tensions and conflicts are taking place most intensely in the Middle East geography, where we are also located. As regional countries, as brotherly countries, we are obliged to be in much closer cooperation and a much closer friendship to eliminate these conflicts and tensions," he said.

Kurtulmuş stated that they sincerely believe that the recent positive developments between Saudi Arabia and Turkey will be to the benefit of not only the two countries but also the entire region.

"The Strait of Hormuz has become an insecure region"

Emphasizing that the greatest source of the unstable situation in the region stems from Israel's aggressive policies, Kurtulmuş said, "Israel has directly attacked many countries in the region and, with a new understanding that denies the Palestinian people the right to survive, wants to make it impossible for Palestinians to live not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank. It is inevitable for us, as regional countries, to act in cooperation against this aggression by Israel. With the war that the US and Israel have started against Iran, both the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz have unfortunately become an extremely insecure region. The developments here have a major impact on the entire world, not only in terms of security but also economically, beyond the countries of the region," he said.

"The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement will evolve into a beneficial agreement with the participation of other countries"

Evaluating the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, Kurtulmuş continued his words as follows:

"I hope that this agreement will develop on solid foundations and evolve into an extremely effective and beneficial defense agreement with the participation of other countries in our region, and even with the participation of countries in the wider Islamic geography. We want peace and stability in our region and in the world. We never consent to any country attacking the sovereignty of another country. Therefore, we support every effort that will ensure peace and stability in the region, and we are trying to put forth our best efforts for this. In this context, we undoubtedly know very well that the key to peace and stability in the region is the Palestinian issue," he said.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ankara, Fahad Bin Assaad Abualnasr, pointed out that relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia are developing rapidly in a way that is consistent with the expectations of the peoples of both countries. Emphasizing that the two countries continue to coordinate their positions on various issues based on their shared determination to support stability and prioritize dialogue and peaceful solutions at the level of regional and international issues, Ambassador Abualnasr stated that the Palestinian cause is at the forefront of this stance.

Underlining that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan emerged as a confirmation of a responsible approach to cooperation and coordination based on the principle of maintaining peace and respecting the sovereignty of states, Abualnasr said that the alliance serves the security and stability of the region, protects development opportunities, and reinforces the well-being of the peoples.