Egypt Could Join Mecca Defence Pact as Erdogan Signals Expansion of Regional Alliance
ANKARA/MECCA
The prospect of Egypt becoming a member adds a significant new dimension to a regional defence arrangement that has already drawn international attention because of its collective-security provision.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in the holy city of Mecca on August 7 by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, commits the three countries to treating an armed attack against one member as an attack against all three and to responding collectively.
Speaking in a special interview for Al Jazeera Arabic's programme Al Muqabala, Erdogan said the agreement was designed to remain open to additional countries. He highlighted Egypt as a particularly important potential participant.
“This agreement has sent an important message to the world,” Erdogan said, arguing that the framework could become broader with the participation of other key countries.
A New Security Architecture?
The agreement comes at a time when the Middle East is facing a rapidly changing security environment.
The pact brings together three countries with very different but complementary strategic capabilities: Saudi Arabia's economic and regional influence, Pakistan's military experience and nuclear deterrent, and Türkiye's large armed forces and expanding defence industry. Analysts have therefore viewed the agreement as potentially significant for the region's evolving security architecture.
Its collective-defence clause has inevitably drawn comparisons with Article 5 of the NATO treaty, under which an attack against one member is regarded as an attack against the alliance as a whole.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also described the pact as technically comparable to NATO's collective-defence principle. At the same time, officials in Pakistan have stressed that the agreement is purely defensive, is not directed against a particular country and should not simply be interpreted as a Middle Eastern version of NATO.
The agreement's practical military mechanisms, including how a collective response would be coordinated, are expected to become clearer as the participating governments establish the pact's institutional structures.
Why Egypt Matters
Egypt's possible participation would carry considerable political and strategic weight.
Cairo is one of the region's most influential Arab capitals and maintains one of the Middle East's largest armed forces. Its geographic position—linking the Mediterranean, Red Sea and North Africa—also gives it a strategic importance extending well beyond its borders.
The prospect of Egyptian participation is not entirely unexpected.
Egypt, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have already been working through a four-country consultation framework known as R4. Foreign ministers from the four countries met in Cairo on June 21 and reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation and coordination on regional peace, security and stability.
Türkiye and Egypt have also been moving to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, including discussions and agreements involving defence industries.
If Cairo eventually joins the Mecca agreement, the move could significantly broaden the pact's political reach and military weight.
A Pact Born Amid Regional Tensions
The agreement was signed against the backdrop of heightened tensions across the Middle East and growing concerns over regional security, maritime routes and the future role of external powers.
The signatories have insisted that the pact is defensive rather than offensive.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the agreement is open to other countries that are prepared to commit to peaceful conflict resolution and strategic cooperation. Officials from both Pakistan and Türkiye have also rejected the suggestion that the agreement was created specifically to target Iran or another individual state.
Nevertheless, the formation of the new security framework has inevitably prompted questions about whether the region is moving towards a more independent system of collective defence.
For years, security arrangements in the Gulf and wider Middle East have relied heavily on external military partnerships, particularly with the United States.
The new pact could therefore be viewed not only as a defence agreement, but also as a signal of growing interest in regional strategic self-reliance.
Erdogan: Hormuz Must Reopen
In the same interview, Erdogan addressed the wider security crisis affecting the Middle East.
He said reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a priority for Türkiye, arguing that a prolonged closure would serve no one's interests.
The strategically vital waterway is crucial to global energy and maritime trade. Any prolonged disruption could have consequences far beyond the region, affecting energy prices, shipping and international supply chains.
Erdogan also praised Qatar's role in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions.
Gaza: “Türkiye Cannot Leave Gaza Alone”
Turning to Gaza, Erdogan said Türkiye would continue supporting the Palestinian territory and would not abandon it.
He argued that Hamas was fulfilling its commitments in good faith while accusing Israel of continuing its military campaign.
His comments underline Ankara's continued emphasis on the Gaza conflict as a central issue in its Middle East policy.
Türkiye has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict and has sought to position itself as an active diplomatic player in efforts to address the region's wider crisis.
Lebanon Remains a Major Concern
Erdogan also expressed concern over continuing Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
He said the issue had been raised with U.S. President Donald Trump and stressed the need for Washington to play a role in bringing the fighting to an end.
The comments reflect Ankara's broader concern that continued military escalation in Lebanon could further destabilize an already fragile region.
Türkiye's Support for Sudan and Libya
The Turkish president also reaffirmed Ankara's continued support for Sudan and described his relationship with Sudan's Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as positive.
Türkiye, he said, would continue supporting Sudan's sovereignty.
On Libya, Erdogan described relations between Ankara and Tripoli as stable and said Türkiye would not abandon its engagement with the country.
Both Sudan and Libya remain important components of Türkiye's broader regional diplomatic and strategic policy.
Erdogan Takes Aim at the EU
On Türkiye's long-running bid to join the European Union, Erdogan expressed doubts about Brussels' willingness to accept Ankara as a member.
He suggested that EU membership was no longer a priority for Türkiye and argued that Europe itself could ultimately lose from continued distance between the two sides.
The remarks reflect the increasingly complicated relationship between Türkiye and the European bloc, which has been shaped by political disagreements, security cooperation, migration and economic ties.
F-35: Türkiye Hopes for a Return
Erdogan also renewed Türkiye's hopes of returning to the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet programme.
Türkiye was removed from the programme after purchasing Russia's S-400 air-defence system, a decision that triggered a major dispute between Ankara and Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump has recently signalled openness to considering Türkiye's return to the programme and the possibility of easing restrictions. Trump has also spoken positively about his relationship with Erdogan.
However, the issue remains legally and politically complicated in Washington.
The S-400 system remains at the centre of the dispute, and opposition in the U.S. Congress could make any transfer of F-35 aircraft to Türkiye difficult.
What Comes Next?
The biggest question now is whether the Mecca defence agreement will remain a three-country arrangement or develop into a wider regional security framework.
Egypt's possible participation could be the first major test of that expansion.
If Cairo joins, the agreement would bring together four major regional powers with significant military, economic and geopolitical influence.
But membership alone would not determine the pact's effectiveness.
The real test will be whether the participating states can translate political commitments into operational military coordination, intelligence sharing, joint planning and a credible collective response mechanism.
For now, the Mecca agreement remains a powerful political signal.
But its long-term significance will depend on what the three founding members—and any future members such as Egypt—do next.
The emerging question is no longer simply whether a new regional defence pact has been created.
The question is whether it could become the foundation of a new Middle Eastern security architecture.
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