WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he was “very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement”.
“It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way. Congratulations to the Great Leadership of the three Nations mentioned. THIS IS A BIG, BOLD, AND IMPORTANT FIRST STEP,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The three countries signed the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” on August 7. They said the accord stipulates that an armed attack against any member would be regarded as an attack on all, similar to Nato’s Article 5 collective defence clause.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Egypt could become the next country to join a newly established mutual defence pact between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Erdogan described Cairo’s possible accession as one of several options being considered as the alliance looks to expand its membership.
“This agreement has sent an important message to the world,” Erdogan told Al Jazeera’s Ali Al Dafiri during an interview for the programme Al Muqabala.
Erdogan said the agreement remained open to additional members and indicated that Egypt’s participation was possible.
During the interview, the Turkish president also addressed tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Erdogan said reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a priority for Ankara, arguing that the continued disruption of the strategic waterway was damaging to all sides.
