Internet, August 9: Egypt is expected to join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement after resolving some technical issues, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the agreement in Mecca on August 7. The pact establishes a collective defense principle among its members.
Fidan said Egypt would likely join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement soon. He said discussions were underway to address technical matters before Egypt formally joins.
Mecca Joint Defense Agreement Could Expand Regional Defense
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement during their meeting in Mecca.
Under the pact, an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on the other members. Fidan said the arrangement resembles NATO’s collective defense principle.
Egypt’s entry could expand the alliance’s reach from North Africa to the Gulf region. The country also controls the strategically important Suez Canal.
Therefore, its participation could influence regional security arrangements. However, Fidan clarified that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement does not target Iran.
He also said the agreement does not identify any country as an enemy. The Turkish minister stressed that the alliance is based on collective defense.
The development comes as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey strengthen their defense cooperation. Egypt’s possible entry could further expand their strategic coordination. (Maxim News)
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