Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign defense pact similar to NATO's Article 5

A new defense pact signed by Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia mirrors NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement," signed Friday, aims to bolster collective deterrence against aggression, with an attack on any one of the three nations considered an attack on all.

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We have started here as three countries and ​we have to take ‌very humble but concrete steps

Fidan clarified that the alliance is not directed at Iran or any other specific country. Instead, it serves as a general pledge of security support among the allies. The specifics of the support offered in case of an attack will be determined through consultations. He emphasized that no country will be perceived as a threat unless a member state is attacked.

Turkey, possessing NATO's second-largest army, views the pact as open for expansion to other regional nations and does not intend to replace existing alliances. Fidan likened the initial three-member group to NATO's early stages, stressing the need for "humble but concrete steps." Efforts to finalize the pact have been ongoing for nearly three years.

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Our president's vision is ⁠that we don't remain limited to three countries, that we grow and bring together ‌all (regional) countries under this roof

Plans include forming a ministerial committee and a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia, with operational details to be established at the first committee meeting. President Tayyip Erdogan envisions the alliance growing beyond its current three members to include all regional countries, with Egypt identified as a potential future participant once technical matters are resolved. Turkey also seeks involvement in international efforts to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks, citing its own interests in maritime safety.

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the accord was not targeting Iran