ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is not aimed at Iran or any other country.
Fidan said the joint defence pact does not target any nation unless it launches an attack against one of the member states of the agreement.
The Turkish foreign minister said the defence arrangement between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is technically similar to NATO’s Article 5, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack against all members.
He said the agreement would include the establishment of a foreign ministers’ committee and a general secretariat, a structure that would have similarities with NATO’s framework.
Fidan also said maritime security in the Red Sea is linked to Türkiye’s interests, adding that Ankara should be part of international coalition efforts being established by Saudi Arabia to ensure the safety of shipping routes.
The Turkish foreign minister also indicated the possibility of Egypt joining the defence agreement, saying Cairo could become part of the pact after certain technical issues are resolved.
He reiterated that the agreement was focused on collective security and cooperation among member countries rather than targeting any specific state.
More read, PM calls trilateral defence agreement shield for future generations
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the joint defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as a historic milestone, saying it would contribute to peace, stability, development and prosperity for future generations.
In a statement on social media platform X, the prime minister said he had the honor of signing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement alongside Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Shehbaz said the three brotherly countries share bonds of faith, friendship and a common commitment to peace and security.
He expressed hope that the agreement, signed under the shadow of the Haramain Sharifain, would serve as a shield of peace and stability for future generations and become a source of progress, prosperity and blessings for Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the wider Muslim world.
