Turkey Seeks Expansion of Defence Pact with Saudi Arabia

A diplomatic effort to expand a newly established security treaty between Ankara, Riyadh, and Islamabad could soon see additional Middle Eastern powers enter the alliance, as leaders seek to stabilize commercial maritime routes and address regional instability.

Speaking to the London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that the vision for the recently forged strategic partnership extends well beyond its initial three signatories. Erdogan stated that his country hopes the initiative will grow, envisioning a future where regional nations could eventually gather under a common security arrangement if suitable conditions arise.

The pact, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, was signed last Friday as the wider region confronts major security spillover from the ongoing war between the United States and Iran. Conflicts in the surrounding waterways have hit maritime traffic through both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, dragging multiple regional actors into the friction.

Concrete moves to broaden the security umbrella appear already underway. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan informed state news agency Anadolu on Saturday that Ankara anticipates Egypt entering the agreement "in the next stage," clarifying that only minor technical obstacles remain to be settled.

Fidan is scheduled to conduct an official diplomatic visit to Cairo on Thursday and Friday. Egyptian authorities have not yet issued any public comments regarding Fidan's statements or the prospect of joining the defense treaty.