Report: Saudi Arabia Rejects Egypt's Participation in Makkah Agreement

Saudi Arabia has opposed Egypt’s participation in a security pact signed with Turkey and Pakistan last week, despite Ankara’s request for Cairo to be included, according to three Saudi sources. The sources told Middle East Eye that Riyadh’s position is driven by mounting frustration with the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, believing that Egypt no longer offers the same strategic or military value it once did. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed in the holy city on Friday, binds Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, stating that an armed aggression against one of the three countries is considered an aggression against all of them. Saudi officials described the deal as a mechanism to strengthen joint defence capabilities, though specific operational details, triggers, and the exact nature of mutual military assistance in a crisis remain unclear.