Turkey hopes Egypt will join Mecca Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Turkey is actively seeking to expand the scope of the Mecca Agreement, a military pact recently signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated his expectation that Egypt will become an official partner in the initiative, aiming to foster regional cooperation.

During a press conference in Egypt, Fidan emphasized the agreement's potential as a "historic initiative for the peoples of the region." He noted ongoing consultations with Egyptian officials, who are currently evaluating the pact's implications. "We have laid the cornerstone of this agreement, the Mecca Agreement, to be a historic initiative for the peoples of the region," Fidan said.

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We have laid the cornerstone of this agreement, the Mecca Agreement, to be a historic initiative for the peoples of the region. Also, we were talking about this agreement with our dear Egyptian brothers, whom we keep informed of the developments, and consultations were constant throughout this entire agreement.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty confirmed that Cairo is reviewing the agreement. He stressed the importance of aligning the pact with Egypt's constitution and legal obligations, without providing further details on the timeline or specific concerns. The door remains open for additional countries to join the agreement, with Egypt being the first publicly identified candidate.

The Mecca Agreement, signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, establishes a mutual defense clause where an attack on one signatory is considered an attack on all. The leaders have stressed its "deterrent" and non-offensive nature, asserting it is not directed against any nation, including Iran, despite Turkey's NATO membership.

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We are studying it, but we must pay special attention to the Egyptian constitution and legal obligations.