Erdogan Reveals Egypt Could Join Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan Defense Pact

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Egypt could potentially join the recently signed joint defense agreement between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Speaking on the program Al Muqabala (The Interview), Erdogan described Cairo’s possible accession as feasible and emphasized that the pact remains open to new members.

Known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement or the Mecca Pact, the deal was signed in the holy city by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The treaty establishes a collective-deterrence framework, stipulating that an external armed attack against any single signatory will be considered an attack against all three. While analysts have drawn comparisons to NATO’s Article 5, officials in Islamabad have urged caution against viewing it as a direct equivalent or as targeting any specific nation.

During the interview, Erdogan addressed a broad spectrum of regional developments, including the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon, as well as tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. He underscored that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a primary objective for Ankara and commended Qatar for its mediation efforts in the region.

Addressing neighboring conflicts, Erdogan pledged that Turkiye would not abandon Syria, Gaza, or Lebanon. He outlined plans to visit Syria to bolster stability, noting that the country's Kurds will share in peace and security. Regarding Gaza, he stated that Turkiye remains firmly committed to supporting the territory and accused Israel of continuing its military campaign while Hamas fulfills its obligations in good faith. On Lebanon, Erdogan expressed deep concern over ongoing Israeli strikes and noted that he had recently discussed the necessity of halting the war with the US president during Donald Trump’s visit to Turkiye.

Erdogan also touched upon relations with Sudan and Libya, affirming that Ankara maintains strong ties with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and remains committed to supporting both nations. Turning to Europe, the Turkish leader remarked that EU membership is no longer a priority for Ankara due to a lack of willingness from the European Union, asserting that Europe would ultimately lose out. Additionally, he mentioned awaiting the fulfillment of a promise regarding F-35 fighter jets following discussions with Donald Trump, despite ongoing legislative hurdles concerning Turkiye's acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.