Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated in an interview that Egypt represents a viable candidate for membership in the joint defence accord established by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. He characterized the agreement as expandable and described it as an important international statement.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed last Friday in the holy city by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, establishes a mutual defence commitment among the three signatories. Under the pact’s terms, armed aggression against any single member would be regarded as an attack on all parties—a provision that some analysts have likened to NATO’s collective defence framework. Officials from Islamabad have cautioned against characterizing the agreement as equivalent to NATO or as directed toward any particular nation.
Erdogan addressed multiple regional concerns during the discussion, including maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, which he identified as a priority for Turkish interests. He commended Qatar’s mediation efforts in addressing regional conflicts and reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to supporting neighbouring countries experiencing instability. On Syria specifically, he indicated plans for a visit and stated that Kurdish populations would receive consideration in peace and stability arrangements. Regarding Gaza, he stressed Turkiye’s determination to provide necessary support and asserted that Hamas was fulfilling its obligations responsibly. On Lebanon, Erdogan expressed serious concerns about ongoing Israeli military operations and indicated he had discussed the need for cessation of hostilities with the US president during a recent visit to Ankara.
On separate matters, Erdogan noted that European Union membership for Turkiye appeared unlikely and was no longer a priority for Ankara. He also referenced a commitment he had received regarding F-35 fighter jets, indicating his expectation for its implementation. Turkiye’s participation in the F-35 programme was terminated in 2019 following its acquisition of Russian air defence systems, which the United States contended posed technological security risks.
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