08.08.2026 15:20
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz signaled that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan could expand. Responding to the question of whether Egypt could join the agreement with "Why not?", Yilmaz said, "Egypt is a significant power in terms of its military, geography, and population. It may be possible to add new participants to this structure in the coming period."
Following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, attention has turned to whether the agreement will expand.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz gave striking messages regarding the possibility of Egypt joining the new defense structure. Yilmaz answered the question "Can Egypt join the new defense agreement?" with "Why not?"
Pointing out Egypt's importance in the region, Yilmaz said, "Egypt is, of course, a very valuable country and a significant power in terms of military, geography, and population. It may be possible for new participants to be added to this structure in the coming period."
"NOT AN ALTERNATIVE TO NATO" Yilmaz also clarified the debates about the purpose for which the new defense structure was established. Stating that the Makkah Agreement was not established as an alternative to NATO, Yilmaz also opposed the assessments that the structure was created against Iran.
Yilmaz's statements were one of the clearest messages that the defense cooperation, which started with three countries, could transform into a structure with broader participation in the future.
ERDOGAN, BIN SALMAN, AND SHARIF SIGNED IN MAKKAH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif came together in Makkah on August 7 and signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.
The agreement elevated military and security cooperation between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan to a new level. According to information reflected in the international press, one of the most critical elements of the agreement is the principle of joint defense. Accordingly, an armed attack against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against the other countries as well.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz AN ATTACK ON ONE WILL COUNT AS AN ATTACK ON THREE With this article, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan aim to establish collective deterrence against possible external threats.
The agreement also envisions expanding defense cooperation among the three countries. The international press highlights Turkey's status as a NATO member with a strong defense industry, Pakistan's position as a nuclear-armed state, and Saudi Arabia's economic and strategic weight.
IT CAME IN THE MIDST OF REGIONAL TENSION The signatures in Makkah were made at a time when security balances in the Middle East are rapidly changing. The international press evaluates the agreement within the framework of increasing security threats in the region, tensions with Iran, Houthi attacks, and the efforts of regional countries to diversify their security policies.
While it is stated that the agreement does not target any country, some international commentators assess that the trilateral structure could create significant consequences for the balance of power in the Middle East.
EYES NOW ON EGYPT With Cevdet Yilmaz's recent statement, the debate over whether the agreement will remain limited to three countries has gained a new dimension.
Yilmaz's remark of "Why not?", which particularly drew attention to Egypt's military capacity, population, and strategic location, brought the possibility of Cairo joining the structure in the coming period to the agenda. However, at this stage, there is no official decision taken or announced regarding Egypt's participation.
If Egypt's possible participation materializes, the geographical and military weight of the structure that started with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan will expand significantly. Such a step could create a critical threshold for the Makkah Agreement to transform from a trilateral defense pact into a broader regional security mechanism.