Damascus is currently evaluating the possibility of joining the "Mecca alliance," a mutual defence treaty established earlier this year between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed that formal discussions regarding the nation’s potential inclusion in the pact are ongoing. The alliance, which was signed in August, operates on a principle of collective security where an act of aggression against one member state is treated as a strike against all three.

The move comes as Saudi Arabia grapples with a surge in hostilities from Houthi forces, who have intensified their campaign with attacks that notably shuttered Riyadh’s international airport for two weeks recently. While Saudi Arabia remains a significant political ally to the current Syrian government—which ascended to power following the removal of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024—the geopolitical landscape remains complex. As Riyadh seeks to bolster its defenses against regional threats, it has already secured support from international partners, including the United Kingdom, which deployed fighter aircraft in October to help safeguard Saudi airspace.