Egypt Next In ‘Islamic NATO’?: Erdogan Signals Cairo May Join Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact

Last Updated:August 16, 2026, 04:30 IST

The potential inclusion of Egypt would bring North Africa’s largest standing army into the fold

Erdogan highlighted that expanding the pact to include Cairo represents a natural next step for broader stability. File pic/AP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has revealed that Egypt could become the next major power to join the newly formed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The landmark alliance, signed in the holy city of Mecca by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, creates a potent tripartite security bloc across South and West Asia.

Speaking on regional security developments with Al Jazeera, Erdogan highlighted that expanding the pact to include Cairo represents a natural next step for broader stability. Egyptian officials participated in months of foundational talks alongside the three signatories prior to the summit, laying the groundwork for potential future accession.

Core Provisions and Collective Deterrence

At the heart of the agreement is a mutual defence commitment similar to NATO’s Article 5 mechanism. Under the terms of the treaty, an armed attack against any single member state will be treated as an attack against all three.

• Signatories: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
• Mutual Protection: Guarantees collective defence and strategic consultation during security crises.
• Key Pillars: Combines Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Saudi Arabia’s financial influence, and Turkey’s NATO-grade military technology.
• Administrative Hub: Implementation will be managed by a dedicated ministerial committee and a permanent secretariat based in Saudi Arabia.

Strategic Implications for Regional Power Dynamics

The alliance formalises a major realignment across regional security architectures. For Riyadh, the pact acts as a vital security hedge amid rising regional volatility. For Ankara and Islamabad, it cements deeper defence-industrial partnerships, trade corridor integration, and joint military cooperation.

The potential inclusion of Egypt would bring North Africa’s largest standing army into the fold. While technical consultations continue regarding Cairo’s existing diplomatic commitments, Erdogan emphasised that bringing Egypt on board remains a strategic priority for regional deterrence and long-term peace.

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Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More

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