Erdogan Eyes Expansion of Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

Erdogan – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – A new chapter has begun in Middle East security. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed last week by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, is already drawing attention across the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he hopes even more countries will join the pact in the near future.

Erdogan shared his views in an interview with the London-based paper Asharq Al-Awsat. He said the deal was never meant to stay limited to just three nations. His words were clear and hopeful. He believes that one day, all countries in the region could unite under this same defence umbrella.

The timing of this agreement is not random. It comes right after the US-Iran war, a conflict that lasted five months and shook the entire region. That war disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. It also forced many nations to rethink old ideas about who protects the Middle East.

For decades, the region leaned heavily on US military power. Now, that idea is changing fast. Erdogan explained that regional players want to take charge of their own safety. They no longer wish to depend fully on outside forces.

“Regional issues should be resolved by regional actors,” Erdogan said. He believes local solutions work better than plans imposed from far away. He also warned that outside formulas often bring more harm than good.

This new pact works much like a mutual defence pledge. If one member nation faces an attack, the others will treat it as an attack on all three. This style of agreement is similar to how NATO operates in the West.

Beyond military protection, the deal also opens doors for deeper cooperation. Erdogan mentioned plans for joint defence industry projects. This means the three nations could work together on building weapons, technology and shared security tools in the future.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also spoken about the pact’s future. On Saturday, he told Anadolu news agency that Egypt may join the alliance soon. He said only a few small technical issues remain before Cairo could take part.

However, Egypt has stayed silent so far. The country has not commented on the deal or on Fidan’s remarks. Still, many believe an announcement could come soon, especially since Fidan plans to visit Cairo this Thursday and Friday.

Turkiye and Egypt already share strong military ties. But Cairo has not shown any clear sign that it plans to sign the new agreement just yet. Experts believe Egypt may be studying the pact carefully before making a final decision.

Meanwhile, ties between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia are also growing stronger. The two nations once had a difficult relationship. Now, things look very different. Erdogan said Ankara and Riyadh are ready to lift their partnership to a much higher level, though he gave no exact details.

This shift shows how fast the Middle East is changing. Old rivalries are cooling down. New partnerships are forming instead. Nations that once stood apart are now working side by side.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement also carries another major message. It challenges the idea of any single power controlling the region’s security balance. Instead, it promotes a model where regional countries protect themselves and support one another.

As more details unfold, all eyes will remain on Fidan’s Cairo visit this week. If Egypt decides to join, the pact could grow into one of the strongest security alliances in the Middle East.

For now, one thing is certain. The Middle East is entering a new era of self-reliance, and the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement stands right at its center.