ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s top diplomat stressed Monday the regional defense pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was not aimed at any particular country and open to others, including Egypt.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s remarks came after the first ministerial meeting of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, which commits Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to mutual defense in the event of any of them being attacked.
“This alliance is founded on international principles such as respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and non-interference in their internal affairs,” he told reporters in Istanbul after they met in an Ottoman-era palace.
“The alliance is not against any state and is open to all states in our region that adhere to these fundamental principles,” he said of a pact inked against a backdrop of war between the US and Iran, and regional attacks by Tehran-backed Houthi rebels.
The meeting came as Israel on Monday said it signed a 3-billion euro deal with Athens (almost $3.5 billion) to set up the “Achilles Shield” aerial defense system for Greece.
