Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Egypt could join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement as Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad expand military cooperation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Egypt could join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signalling that the three-country security framework could expand beyond its original members.

Erdogan described Egyptian participation as possible in an interview with Al Jazeera, saying the agreement could accommodate additional countries. His remarks come less than two weeks after Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the pact in Mecca on August 7.

The agreement commits the three members to regard an armed attack against one of them as an attack against all three, creating a collective security framework among the participating states.

Egypt Emerges As Possible Member

Erdogan’s comments put Egypt at the centre of discussions over the pact’s possible expansion.

Cairo has not formally announced that it intends to join the arrangement. Any Egyptian participation would add one of the Arab world’s largest military powers to a framework already linking Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Egypt also maintains extensive military relationships with several countries, including the United States and European partners. Its possible entry could therefore broaden the strategic significance of the Mecca agreement.

Three Countries Deepen Cooperation

The agreement provides for closer political and military coordination between the existing members.

Turkey’s Defence Ministry said the framework would establish mechanisms involving defence ministers, foreign ministers and military chiefs. The countries also plan regular consultations and greater coordination between their armed forces.

The partnership covers land, naval and air exercises, including cooperation involving air defence and unmanned systems.

The three countries also intend to strengthen defence-industrial cooperation through technology development, production and logistics support.

Focus On New Military Technology

Turkey has placed particular emphasis on advanced defence technologies under the pact.

The Turkish Defence Ministry said cooperation would include unmanned and autonomous systems, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence.

The arrangement could also create opportunities for joint production and technology transfers among the participating defence industries. Such cooperation could reduce dependence on external suppliers in selected areas while strengthening domestic defence manufacturing.

The pact has drawn comparisons with NATO’s collective-defence principle, although Pakistani officials have rejected descriptions of it as an “Islamic NATO”.

Pact Avoids Naming Adversary

The three countries have stressed that the agreement does not target a specific state.

That distinction could become important if additional countries join. The pact focuses on collective security and military coordination rather than establishing an alliance against a named adversary.

Its expansion could nevertheless alter the regional security balance by connecting major military powers across South Asia, the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan Discusses Regional Crises

Erdogan also addressed wider security issues during his interview, including the Strait of Hormuz, Syria, Gaza and Lebanon.

On the Strait of Hormuz, he said Turkey wanted the strategic waterway reopened, arguing that continued restrictions would benefit no country. The strait remains a critical route for global energy shipments and has become a major flashpoint amid tensions involving Iran and the United States.

Turkey has also taken part in discussions in Jeddah concerning an international coalition intended to protect shipping in the Red Sea.

Ankara Signals Syria Role

On Syria, Erdogan said Turkey would continue supporting efforts to establish stability and indicated plans to visit the country.

He also addressed the position of Syria’s Kurdish population, saying they should have a role in peace and stability while Turkey continues to safeguard its security interests.

Ankara considers developments involving Kurdish groups in Syria closely linked to its national security concerns.

Gaza And Lebanon Remain Key

Erdogan said Turkey would continue supporting Gaza and argued that Ankara could not abandon the territory amid the continuing conflict.

He also criticised Israeli military action in Lebanon and said he had raised the need to end the fighting with US President Donald Trump during Trump’s recent visit to Turkey.

The comments underline Ankara’s attempt to combine the new Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with a broader regional diplomatic and security role as conflicts continue across the Middle East.