Egypt Weighs Constitutional and Legal Factors Before Deciding on New Regional Defence Pact

Egypt must carefully evaluate legal and constitutional requirements before deciding whether to sign the newly established defence pact involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, according to Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

Speaking during a joint news conference with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Alamein, Abdelatty emphasized that cooperation involving mutual defence commitments requires thorough review under Egypt's legal framework. Cairo is analyzing the agreement comprehensively to address any technical, constitutional, and legal matters prior to a final decision.

The agreement, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishes that an armed assault against any of the three participating countries will be treated as an assault on all. The pact was formed amid heightened regional tensions driven by the US-Iran conflict, threats to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen targeting oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea coastline.

Egypt maintains close ties with all three signatories and has previously expressed willingness to participate in a Saudi-led coalition to safeguard shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Furthermore, Egypt already engages in an informal diplomatic and strategic forum with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, alongside regular bilateral military exercises.

Fidan expressed optimism during a previous interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency, stating he expects Egypt to join the historic pact once minor technical hurdles are resolved. Meanwhile, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's strategic position as a mediator capable of engaging with all regional actors, including Iran and its proxies, to help manage conflicts in Gaza and broader geopolitical disputes.