Erdogan signals Egypt’s potential accession to Mecca defence pact
Recep Tayyip Erdogan tells Al Jazeera that Cairo’s participation is “possible” as Ankara outlines broader regional mediation efforts and F-35 negotiations with Washington.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that Egypt could join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a security pact recently formalised by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Erdogan described Cairo’s accession as “possible” and affirmed that the agreement is open to further expansion.
The Mecca Pact, signed in the holy city last Friday by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, establishes a collective defence clause. It stipulates that an armed attack against any signatory is treated as an attack against all three. While analysts have likened this provision to NATO’s Article 5, officials in Islamabad have cautioned against interpreting the alliance as a direct equivalent or as being directed at any specific nation.
Beyond the defence architecture, Erdogan outlined Ankara’s stance on several regional flashpoints, including the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon. He pledged that Turkiye would not leave its neighbours to face regional turmoil alone, stating that Syria’s Kurds would have a “share of peace and stability” and that Ankara would do whatever was necessary to support Gaza. He also expressed serious concern over continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon, noting he had raised the need to end the war with US President Donald Trump during Trump’s recent visit to Turkiye.
On the subject of the Strait of Hormuz, Erdogan stated that reopening the waterway was a priority for Ankara, arguing that its closure served no interests. This comment follows recent tensions where Trump declared an intention to make the strait US territory, a claim rebuffed by Iran’s deputy foreign minister. Erdogan credited Qatar with playing a significant role in mediation efforts to halt fighting across the region.
Erdogan also addressed Turkiye’s relationship with the European Union and the United States. He stated that EU membership was no longer a priority for Ankara, suggesting Europe would be the loser from this shift. Regarding defence procurement, the Turkish president reported receiving a promise from Trump to lift CAATSA sanctions and allow Turkiye’s return to the F-35 fighter jet programme, contingent on the removal of penalties imposed after Ankara acquired the Russian-made S-400 air defence system.
