Egypt, Africa’s most powerful military force, could join a new defence alliance formed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, potentially extending an emerging security bloc into a continent already facing a growing military build-up in its north.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in the Saudi holy city on August 7, 2026, pledging to treat an armed attack against one member as an attack against all three.
However, the three countries do not appear content with limiting the alliance to its founding members, with discussions already pointing towards further expansion.
The countries presented the agreement as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening deterrence and collective security rather than targeting a particular state. The deal followed two years and eight months of negotiations.
Even before the meeting, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi signalled that the discussions would go beyond the immediate security tensions in the Gulf.
