Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the newly formed regional defense pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is not directed against any specific country and remains open to other nations, including Egypt. His statements came following the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, held on Tuesday in Istanbul.
The pact commits the three countries—Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia—to mutual defense should any member state be attacked. Fidan highlighted that the alliance is grounded in international principles respecting state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in domestic affairs. He described the agreement as inclusive, inviting other regional countries that adhere to these principles to join, while consultations are ongoing to establish the criteria and processes related to membership.
The defense pact unites Turkiye, home to NATO’s second-largest military, Pakistan, the only Islamic country with nuclear capabilities, and Saudi Arabia, a prominent Gulf state. The meeting brought together the foreign ministers of the three countries—Fidan, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar, and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan—along with their respective defense ministers and military chiefs of staff. Discussions reportedly included the development of a roadmap for potential new members to join the alliance.
The formation of the pact occurs in a tense regional context, marked by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, as well as attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in the region. The announcement coincided with Israel’s confirmation of a €3 billion (approximately $3.5 billion) deal with Greece to establish the “Achilles Shield” air defense system.
In response to questions about Israel’s increasingly sharp rhetoric toward Turkiye, Fidan referred to the upcoming Israeli elections and characterized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “not someone to be taken seriously.” Earlier this month, Turkiye sought an international arrest warrant against Netanyahu, accusing him of “genocide” connected to Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, which intensified diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Fidan asserted that Netanyahu should be held accountable before the international community, describing him and his associates as a global security threat extending beyond Turkiye’s national interests. The minister’s remarks underscore the broader geopolitical frictions influencing the region amid the new defense initiative’s establishment.