Turkish president says the agreement is based on collective deterrence and could eventually include other peace-seeking countries across the region.
Anadolu Agency – Web Desk: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the vision behind the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement extends beyond Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, expressing hope that other countries in the region could eventually join the framework.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Erdogan said the three-country agreement was intended as a broader framework for regional security and stability rather than a response solely to current tensions between the United States and Iran.
“Our vision is not limited to three countries,” Erdogan said, adding that Ankara wanted the framework to expand and potentially bring all countries in the region under it.
He said participation would be open to countries seeking peace, prosperity and stability, stressing that the agreement was not directed against any particular country.
Pact based on collective deterrence
Erdogan said the Makkah agreement is built on the principle of collective deterrence and is designed to strengthen defence and security cooperation among its members.
Under the arrangement, a security threat against one member would be treated as a common security concern by the other parties, he said.
The Turkish president also said the agreement could facilitate joint defence industry projects and enhance cooperation against terrorism while contributing to wider regional stability.
Erdogan stressed that the pact should not be viewed solely as a military arrangement, saying its broader objective was to reinforce mutual security and preserve peace and stability.
Erdogan calls for greater regional responsibility
The Turkish president said countries in the region should take greater responsibility for their own security and resolve regional problems through cooperation among regional actors.
He said Türkiye did not seek to establish an exclusionary bloc, but instead supported a regional framework based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual trust and shared interests.
According to Erdogan, the agreement represents a strategic response to changing regional circumstances and a first step toward greater regional ownership of security issues.
Gulf security and Strait of Hormuz
Erdogan also linked regional security to the stability of the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, warning that disruption to the strategic waterway could have consequences for energy supplies, international trade and the global economy.
He called for restraint and continued diplomatic engagement to ease tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, saying Türkiye favours dialogue and negotiation over escalation.
He said stronger regional cooperation could help ensure the waterway remains safe and open to international trade.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye formalise defence cooperation
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye formally established the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement earlier this month, describing it as a defensive framework focused on collective deterrence, military cooperation and regional stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described the Makkah agreement as an extension of the bilateral defence pact signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year.
Under that earlier agreement, aggression against either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia was declared to be considered aggression against both countries.
Erdogan’s latest comments indicate that Ankara sees the Makkah framework as potentially evolving into a wider regional security mechanism rather than remaining limited to its three founding members.
