12.08.2026 11:11
It has been claimed that Saudi Arabia did not want Egypt to be included in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement it signed with Turkey and Pakistan. Saudi sources stated that Egypt has fallen short in regional security matters and that Riyadh's trust in Cairo has diminished. While Turkey supported Egypt's joining the alliance, the agreement was signed without Egypt due to Saudi Arabia's stance.
The agreement signed in Mecca on Friday, August 7, by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three. While the agreement aims to strengthen the parties' collective defense capacity and deterrence, it is noted that the details regarding the conditions and methods of implementing joint military support in times of crisis have not yet been clarified.
SAUDIS DO NOT WANT EGYPT Three Saudi sources speaking to the UK-based Middle East Eye news outlet said Riyadh does not want Egypt included in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, "at least for now." The sources explained that Saudi Arabia's stance stems from growing discomfort with the administration of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as well as a belief in Riyadh that Cairo no longer offers the same strategic and military value it once did.
TURKEY WANTED EGYPT'S INCLUSION In a statement on Saturday, August 8, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Egypt is a "natural partner" for Turkey and said that once technical issues are resolved, there is no obstacle to Cairo joining the alliance. According to Middle East Eye, Ankara made intense efforts to include Egypt in the agreement and offered Cairo participation. However, after Egypt indicated it was not ready to join, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia signed the agreement without Cairo. Saudi sources, however, contested the assessment that "Egypt itself refused to join the agreement." One source argued that Cairo's non-participation stemmed from Riyadh's stance.
TENSIONS ON THE RIYADH-CAIRO LINE Saudi sources alleged that the basis of Riyadh's discomfort with the Sisi administration lies in Egypt's stance on regional security issues. According to the sources, Saudi Arabia became one of Cairo's most important financial backers after Sisi came to power in 2013, spending approximately $25 billion to support the Egyptian economy, but Egypt did not provide the support Riyadh expected on key security matters. One source described Egypt's role in Saudi Arabia's war against the Houthis in Yemen as "minimal and unreliable." Saudi sources also pointed to discomfort with Cairo's rapprochement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have disagreements, particularly regarding support for separatist groups in southern Yemen, the sources argued that Egypt's relations with the UAE have weakened Saudi Arabia's trust in Cairo. The sources noted that the UAE's activities in Somaliland, its relations with Israel, its stance on Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam, and its support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan have caused problems between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
RIYADH SEES TURKEY AND PAKISTAN AS STRONGER PARTNERS Saudi sources reported that Riyadh assesses Turkey and Pakistan can contribute more than Egypt in the defense field. Turkey's advanced defense industry and Pakistan's established weapons production sector and large standing army were cited as factors strengthening their roles in the agreement. In contrast, the sources stated that Egypt's military production capacity does not offer the same level of advanced defense technology, and the country's military capabilities are also questioned. According to the sources, Riyadh's stance on not including Egypt in the agreement is related not only to Cairo's political choices but also to an assessment of the tangible contribution it could make to the new regional security architecture.
EGYPT'S REGIONAL ROLE UNDER DEBATE Saudi Arabia's stance comes at a time when assessments are being made about the decline of Egypt's traditional role in the Middle East. Egypt long stood out as one of the Gulf states' key military partners and participated in the US-led coalition formed in 1991 to expel Iraq from Kuwait. However, Saudi sources argued that during the Sisi era, Egypt became more dependent on external financial support while contributing less to regional security matters. One source said decision-makers in Riyadh have serious concerns about Sisi's loyalty and view Saudi Arabia's relations with Turkey and Pakistan as more reliable than its ties with Cairo. Nevertheless, Saudi sources noted that leaving Egypt out of the agreement does not completely close the door to Cairo joining the alliance in the future, but that Riyadh's current stance is for Egypt to remain outside the agreement for now.