Erdogan Says Egypt Could Join Turkiye-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Defence Pact

DOHA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Egypt could become the next country to join a newly established mutual defence pact between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signalling a possible expansion of the regional security alliance.

Speaking in a television interview on Sunday, Erdogan said the agreement remains open to additional members and indicated that Egypt’s participation was among the options being considered.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed last Friday in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all, requiring a coordinated response to external threats.

Erdogan said the agreement had delivered an important message to the international community and suggested that other countries could join the arrangement in the future.

His remarks come as regional states seek stronger security cooperation amid conflicts and political instability across the Middle East. The Turkish president also discussed tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

Erdogan described the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a priority for Ankara, saying continued disruption of the strategic waterway was harming all sides. The strait is a major global energy route connecting Gulf oil and gas producers with international markets.

He also praised Qatar’s mediation efforts, saying Doha had played an important role in attempts to reduce regional tensions and end ongoing conflicts