Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani announced at the Manama Dialogue 2026 that Damascus is considering joining the Mecca alliance. this regional security pact currently includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye.
Syria's bid to join the Türkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia alliance
Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani stated during a regional security session in Bahrain that Syria is evaluating its entry into the Mecca alliance. According to the report, Shaibani believes that Damascus is an essential component of regional security and is seeking a framework that can safeguard stability through joint deterrence and defense systems.
This potential alignment suggests a significant shift in Syria's diplomatic strategy following the collapse of the previous administration. By seeking a partnership with Türkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, the current Syrian government appears to be pivoting toward a security architecture rooted in regional cooperation rather than isolated survival.
The 1,000 Israeli attacks that shaped Shaibani's demands
The urgency for a new defense pact is underscored by the ongoing conflict with Israel. As the report says, Asaad al Shaibani claimed that Israel has launched more than 1 ,000 attacks against Syrian territory in less than two years, resulting in dozens of deaths.
Shaibani used these figures to challenge international calls for stricter border controls and state-led weapons management. He argued that it is contradictory for the international community to demand state control of arms while Syrian sovereignty is being violated on a daily basis by external military strikes.
The fight to restore the December 8, 2024, border lines
A central point of contention for the Syrian government is the status of the buffer zone established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, Israel has occupied this zone and established military positions both inside and outside the agreed boundaries, a move the UN has labeled a violation.
Asaad al Shaibani has called for a full return to the lines that existed before the December 8, 2024 , regime change. He specifically cited UN Security Council Resolution 497 to reaffirm that the Golan Heights remains Syrian territory, insisting that the 1974 pact must be fully implemented to ensure peace.
The missing timeline for Damascus's decision on the Mecca pact
Despite the high-level discussions at the Manama Dialogue 2026, several critical details remain unverified. While Asaad al Shaibani confirmed that talks are underway, he did not provide a specific timeline for when Syria might officially join the Mecca alliance.
Furthermore , the source provides only the Syrian perspective; it remains unclear whether the current governments of Türkiye, Pakistan, or Saudi Arabia have formally welcomed Syria's entry or what conditions they might impose on Damascus to ensure the pact's stability.
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