Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated this weekend that Egypt and other countries are likely to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement recently signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which is designed to help stabilise the region and prevent future wars in the Middle East. For its part, Iran assured on 10 August that it has no cause for concern regarding the new military alliance and considers that it is not directed against Tehran.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the historic mutual defence pact on 7 August in the city of Mecca, against a backdrop marked by the war between the US and Iran, which has drawn in countries across the region and disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Speaking about current regional affairs during an interview with the Turkish news agency Anatolia – which was reported by numerous media outlets – Fidan explained that the agreement was the result of a lengthy preparatory process and that negotiations had lasted for approximately 2 years and 8 months.
More countries to join the Mecca Alliance
Fidan described the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement as an important step for regional security and explained that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s vision is to expand the alliance to other countries: “Our President’s (Erdoğan’s) vision includes not limiting ourselves to three countries, but growing and, if necessary, bringing all the countries (in the region) together under this umbrella,” he said. The minister also maintained that the countries in the region need to ensure their own security and economic future through robust, supranational structures, as, in his view, external powers are exacerbating regional problems rather than resolving them.
The Turkish Foreign Minister pointed out that, whilst Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are the “core countries” and founders of the agreement, there are already other states that also wish to join the framework. “I believe Egypt will also be among the alliance’s members in the next phase,” he said, adding that there are other countries interested in the initiative, though he did not reveal which ones.
The agreement signed in the Saudi holy city provides for the creation of a political and military committee comprising the foreign and defence ministers and the chiefs of staff of the armed forces of the participating countries. A General Secretariat will also be established to oversee the implementation of decisions. Its headquarters will be in Saudi Arabia and cooperation will include joint exercises, military manoeuvres, intelligence sharing, logistical support and collaboration in the defence industry.
Mutual defence against a common threat
Fidan explained that the agreement sets out a series of obligations for the signatory countries and that, in the event of an attack on one of them, the affected state will be able to determine the type and extent of military support it requires. This assistance could range from intelligence and logistical support to the supply of ammunition and bombs and the deployment of military units. However, the Turkish foreign affairs representative emphasised that the Mecca Alliance is not directed against any specific country, and that the definition of a common threat set out in the agreement was not drawn up with any particular state in mind.
“There is no common threat against which we are uniting in writing. When one looks at the foreign policy stances of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, these are not countries with expansionist policies. They are preoccupied with their own problems and with their development within their own borders. No country that does not attack us is a target for us,” Fidan emphasised.
The minister assured that the alliance would not, either, become a structure designed to stir up conflict between different regions or countries: “As long as it is not attacked from within or outside the region, this alliance cannot have any issues with any country,” he insisted once again.
Iran says it is not concerned about the Mecca Defence Pact
For its part, Iran has stated in recent hours that it has no reason to be concerned about the new defence pact between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, declared on 10 August that the agreement signed in Mecca should not be interpreted as an initiative directed against Tehran.
“Any plan that is based on the geopolitical and historical realities of the region, that is comprehensive and inclusive, and that correctly identifies the enemy and the threat, has the potential to help strengthen security and prevent instability and abuses by the Zionist enemy and its allies,” said the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson when speaking about the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, making an obvious reference to Israel.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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