Turkish President Erdogan signed a new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in Mecca, including a collective-defense clause modeled on NATO's Article 5, while keeping the trip off his public schedule to avoid outside interference. Egypt declined to join despite two years of Turkish lobbying, with officials citing its sensitive ties to Israel, the UAE and India as reasons to avoid picking sides.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan downplayed Egypt's absence, saying the countries already function like allies and calling remaining obstacles 'technical.' Egypt maintains a separate defense agreement with the UAE and deployed fighter jets in response to Iranian strikes on the UAE in May, leaving it caught between competing regional blocs.
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