Egypt May Join Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Defence Alliance, Turkish FM Says

Turkey has indicated that Egypt could soon become part of the newly formed defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, describing Cairo as a “natural partner” once remaining technical matters are settled.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the remarks after the three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on Friday in the Saudi holy city. The pact, inked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, states that an armed attack on any one member will be regarded as an attack on all.

Fidan told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency that the alliance is “technically the same” as NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence clause. He stressed it is purely defensive, names no common enemy and is not directed at Iran or any other specific country. “No country is our target as long as they don’t attack member countries,” he said.

On Egypt’s potential entry, Fidan said: “Egypt is our natural partner on all issues. I believe that at the next stage Egypt will also be among us in the alliance. We already act toward one another as if we were alliance members. There are a few technical issues. Once these are implemented, there is no reason for Egypt not to be part of it.”

He added that Turkish President Erdogan’s vision is for the grouping to expand beyond its three founding members and bring other regional countries under the same framework. Other unnamed nations have also expressed interest, according to Fidan. The alliance plans to establish a ministerial committee similar to NATO’s structure and a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia, with operational details to be decided at the first committee meeting.

The agreement builds on an earlier mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed in 2025. Officials from the three countries have described the new deal as intended to strengthen collective deterrence and enhance defence cooperation amid heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran.

Egypt had participated in earlier discussions involving the four countries on regional security issues, though it was not a signatory to the Mecca agreement. The pact remains open to additional members, Turkish officials have emphasised.