Erdogan Pushes for Egypt to Join New Defence Alliance as Saudi Concerns Grow

ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Egypt could join a new mutual defence pact signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signalling that the agreement could eventually expand beyond its three founding members.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Erdogan said the Mecca Defence Agreement was open to other countries and was not directed against any particular state.

The pact, signed recently by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all of them. The provision has drawn comparisons with Article 5 of the NATO alliance, under which an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.

Erdogan rejected suggestions that the agreement represented a threat to a specific country, amid speculation in Western media that the emerging security partnership could serve as a counterweight to Israel’s influence in the Middle East.

The Turkish president said Ankara would not stand aside when neighbouring and regional countries faced crises, referring specifically to developments in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon.

However, reports citing sources familiar with the discussions said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had concerns about Egypt potentially joining the arrangement, particularly because of Cairo’s close relationship with Abu Dhabi.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have increasingly found themselves at odds over aspects of regional policy, including developments in southern Yemen and other regional issues. Riyadh is therefore reportedly cautious about expanding a defence arrangement to a country it views as closely aligned with the UAE.

The claims about differences between Erdogan and Mohammed bin Salman have not been publicly confirmed by either government.

Pakistani officials have also cautioned against portraying the agreement as equivalent to NATO or suggesting that it was created specifically to target a particular country.

The pact nevertheless represents a significant step in defence cooperation among Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, three influential Muslim-majority countries with growing strategic interests in the Middle East and wider region.

The agreement comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, including the conflicts in Gaza and Syria and wider disputes involving regional powers. It also comes as countries in the Horn of Africa face growing security and military challenges.

Erdogan has sought to position Turkey as a regional power capable of playing a greater role in resolving conflicts and supporting allies and partners during periods of instability.

The Turkish president's remarks on Egypt could put further focus on Cairo's position as regional powers reshape their security partnerships.

Egypt has long maintained close defence and diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia while also having strong relations with the UAE and Turkey. Any decision by Cairo to join the new pact would therefore have significant implications for the regional balance of power.

For now, the agreement remains centred on Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with no formal announcement that Egypt has been invited to join.

GAROWE ONLINE