Egypt weighs joining Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye defence pact

CAIRO: Egypt has started a serious review of the possibility of joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo has close and strategic relations with all three countries. He said Egypt’s ties with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye extend beyond political cooperation.

Abdelatty was asked about Egypt’s possible inclusion in the defence agreement. He said Egypt has been aware of the pact since the beginning. He confirmed that Egyptian state institutions are currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of the agreement.

The minister said no final decision has been taken yet. He added that the relevant Egyptian authorities are examining the agreement and its possible implications.

Abdelatty stressed that defence agreements involve important commitments. Therefore, Egypt must carefully assess all legal and constitutional aspects before making a decision.

He said any possible Egyptian participation would have to comply with the country’s Constitution and existing legal requirements. The review will also consider the responsibilities that could arise from joining the agreement.

The development comes days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The pact seeks to strengthen defence cooperation among the three countries and enhance their collective security.

Under the agreement, an attack against any one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all three. The arrangement has been described as a major step towards closer defence and strategic cooperation.