New Defence Pact Is Like NATO’s Article 5: Turkiye
News Desk
Ankara: Turkiye has indicated that the newly signed defence agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could eventually grow into a broader regional security alliance, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan comparing its mutual-defence principle to NATO’s Article 5.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday, declares that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all.
Fidan said the arrangement was designed to strengthen security cooperation among all three partners rather than target Iran or any other country.
Speaking to state-run Anadolu news agency, he said the three allies would determine through consultations the nature and scale of assistance required if one of them came under attack.
He stressed that the agreement did not automatically designate any country as a threat, saying its security commitments would come into play in response to aggression against a member.
The Turkish foreign minister also revealed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants the framework to eventually include other countries in the region. Egypt, he said, could be among the potential members once certain technical issues are addressed.
Fidan said the alliance would initially proceed cautiously, with a ministerial committee expected to be established along with a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia. Further operational arrangements are expected to be discussed at the alliance’s first committee meeting.
Comparing the agreement with NATO, Fidan said the Western alliance currently comprises 32 members, while the new regional framework is beginning with three countries and would take gradual steps towards expansion.
The pact is not intended to replace existing alliances, according to Turkish officials, and has been described as an open framework for regional countries willing to cooperate on security.
Turkish officials have also linked the agreement to wider efforts to address regional security challenges. Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have recently worked together through the R4 grouping on regional issues, including conflict involving Iran.
Meanwhile, Fidan said Turkiye should participate in an international effort to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, arguing that maritime security directly affects Ankara’s interests.
President Erdogan separately said the defence pact was based on collective deterrence and was open to other “brotherly countries”. He said the agreement would promote defence cooperation, joint projects in the defence industry and counterterrorism efforts.
Erdogan also stressed that the pact was not directed against any country and reaffirmed Turkiye’s preference for resolving regional disputes through dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law.
