Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Egypt could join the Pak-Saudi-Turkiye defence pact. He said several technical issues must first be resolved.
Fidan described Egypt as a natural partner for Turkiye on various issues. He said both sides already cooperate as though they belonged to the same alliance.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed in Saudi Arabia on Friday. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye signed the agreement to strengthen collective deterrence.
The pact treats an attack against one signatory as an attack against all. Fidan compared this arrangement to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence provision.
Pact Establishes Collective Defence Commitment
NATO’s Article 5 considers an attack against one member an attack against all. It requires members to provide assistance through measures they consider necessary.
Fidan said the Makkah agreement follows the same basic principle. However, its practical implementation will depend on consultations and decisions by relevant authorities.
A country facing an attack would first request assistance, he explained. The affected state would also determine the type of support it requires.
Such assistance could include intelligence, logistics, or ammunition supplies. Depending on the threat, the response could also involve military units.
Support Will Depend On Threat Level
Fidan said signatories would determine the appropriate response through consultations. They would decide the degree, form, and format of assistance after assessing each situation.
He emphasized that the agreement does not automatically identify any country as an enemy. A country would not face collective action unless a signatory came under attack.
Meanwhile, Fidan rejected suggestions that the alliance targets Iran. He said the pact represents a broader commitment to protecting the security of its members.
Egypt could therefore become the next participant after resolving the remaining technical matters. Further discussions will determine the framework for its potential participation.
