Which other countries could join the Turkiye-Saudi-Pakistan defence pact?
Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement, a new defence pact modeled after NATO. Turkish officials are actively seeking to expand the alliance to include additional nations to strengthen regional security.
Why it matters
This agreement represents a significant shift in Middle Eastern and South Asian security architecture, potentially altering regional power dynamics.
While Egypt has been floated as a candidate, analysts say Cairo may be wary of defence commitments.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info National flags of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are displayed outside parliament in Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 8, 2026 [Sohail Shahzad/EPA] By Stephen Quillen Published On 9 Aug 2026 9 Aug 2026 Turkiye wants to expand its newly formed defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to include more countries, says Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, citing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Under our president’s vision, we should not remain limited to three countries. We should grow and, if necessary, bring all countries under this umbrella,” Fidan told state news agency Anadolu, according to a report published on Saturday.
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