Turkish FM Urges Egypt to Join Muslim NATO Defence Pact Signed in Makkah

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday expressed hope that Egypt would soon join a joint defence agreement with regional partners to strengthen stability in West Asia. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the agreement on Friday amidst the raging war between the United States and Iran. The armed conflict has dragged in regional countries and disrupted vital shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. In an interview with the official Anadolu news agency, Fidan was optimistic that Egypt would soon join the deal, officially named the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, commonly referred to by the public as the Muslim NATO. He described Cairo as a ‘natural partner in all issues’. ‘I believe in the next phase Egypt will also become part of our alliance. Even now, we are already acting towards each other as if we are alliance members,’ Fidan said. ‘There are only a few technical issues. Once these are resolved, there is no reason for Egypt not to be part of this agreement,’ he added. Fidan stressed that the defence pact is not aimed at targeting any country. ‘There is no common threat that we have put in writing,’ Fidan asserted. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Friday that the pact embraces the principle of collective defence, meaning an attack on one member will be considered an attack on all members. This move is intended to strengthen collective deterrence.