Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye agreement is not aimed at Iran and could eventually expand to include other regional countries.
ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — WEB DESK: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said the defence agreement signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is technically comparable to NATO’s Article 5 mutual-defence principle, while stressing that the pact is not directed against Iran or any other country.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Friday, establishing a framework for collective deterrence and closer defence cooperation. The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all.
Fidan says pact is not aimed at Iran
Speaking to Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu news agency, Fidan said the new alliance was intended as a general commitment to support the security of its three members rather than target Iran or another specific country.
He said the members would determine through consultations the degree, form and format of assistance required if one of them came under attack.
Fidan added that no country would be regarded as a threat as long as it did not attack a member of the alliance.
Alliance could expand beyond three countries
Fidan said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants the alliance to eventually expand beyond Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
He identified Egypt as a potential candidate, saying Cairo could join once certain technical matters are resolved.
Fidan stressed that the alliance would initially take gradual and concrete steps, noting that negotiations to finalise the pact had been underway for two years and eight months.
The Turkish foreign minister also said a ministerial committee similar to one within NATO would be established, while a general secretariat would be based in Saudi Arabia. Further operational details are expected to be determined during the alliance’s first committee meeting.
What does the pact mean?
The agreement is designed to strengthen collective deterrence, defence cooperation, strategic coordination and joint defence-industry projects among its members.
Fidan’s comparison with NATO Article 5 highlights the pact’s collective-security dimension. However, the agreement is not the same organisation as NATO, and Türkiye has said it does not seek to replace existing alliances.
Erdogan says pact targets no country
Turkish President Erdogan previously said the agreement “targets no country” and is open to participation by other countries that support regional peace, prosperity and stability.
He said the pact would promote defence cooperation, joint defence-industry projects and efforts to combat terrorism. Erdogan also linked the agreement to the right of self-defence recognised under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
