Erdogan signals Egypt may join Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan defence pact

What happened

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that Egypt could join the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a collective defence pact currently involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The pact, signed in Mecca by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, treats an attack on any member as an attack on all. Egyptian officials reportedly took part in months of preparatory discussions before the summit. India's foreign ministry said it is examining the agreement's implications for its national security and regional stability.

Why it matters

The addition of Egypt would significantly widen the alliance's strategic reach across South and West Asia and give the bloc greater regional weight. The pact's NATO-style mutual defence clause and its expansion could reshape regional security dynamics, which is why India is already assessing its impact.