FM Fidan: Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia defence pact technically same as NATO’s Article 5

A defence pact signed between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi ⁠Arabia ⁠is technically the same as NATO‘s Article 5 mutual defence ⁠agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday, adding the accord was not targeting Iran.

Speaking to the state-run Anadolu ⁠news ⁠agency, Fidan said a committee of ministers similar to that within NATO would be formed as part of the ⁠alliance, as well as a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia. Egypt could potentially join ⁠the ‌pact once ‌certain technical matters ⁠are resolved, ‌he said.

The Turkish top diplomat laid out the following key points in his comments:

“► The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is technically the same as Article 5 of NATO Treaty on collective defense.

► The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement does not specify any ‘common threat’.

► No country that does not attack us is our target under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.

► Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, which signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, are not expansionist countries.

► President Erdoğan’s vision is to expand the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement beyond 3 countries, bring all countries under the framework if necessary.”

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and ⁠Türkiye signed ⁠the agreement ⁠on Friday.