08.08.2026 20:30
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan made a striking statement regarding the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement signed between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Minister Fidan said, "We worked for two years on this agreement. There was a need for a defense agreement in the region. The agreement is technically the same as NATO's Article 5. The agreement does not target any country. The three countries will take a close interest in each other's security."
Minister of Foreign Affairs Fidan said that the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is technically the same as Article 5 of the NATO Treaty regarding collective defense.
FIDAN'S STATEMENT ON THE "MAKKAH AGREEMENT"
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan answered questions on the agenda at the Anadolu Agency (AA) Editors' Desk. Minister Fidan made statements regarding the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
The highlights of Fidan's statements are as follows:
"There are certain cornerstones of the foreign policy we conduct under the leadership of our President. We witnessed an event related to the realization of one of them. Increasing our regional ownership is important. External hegemons do not solve problems; they make them more acute.
"THERE WAS A NEED FOR A DEFENSE AGREEMENT IN THE REGION"
There is a will to eliminate and stop the instabilities in the region, and to advance the welfare of the region's people by achieving greater integration. This agreement has been in preparation for two years. There was a need for a defense agreement in the region. Countries signing this alliance commit that they will not pose a threat to each other's security. It is not against an external actor; internally, we are now in solidarity.
"TECHNICALLY THE SAME AS ARTICLE 5 OF NATO"
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is technically the same as Article 5 of the NATO Treaty regarding collective defense. There is no common threat that we have put in writing.
"NO COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT ATTACK US IS OUR TARGET"
When you look at the foreign policy stances of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye, they are not countries with expansionist policies. They are occupied with their own issues and development within their own borders. No country that does not attack us is our target. Unless attacked, whether from within or outside the region, this alliance cannot have any issue with any country. We will in no way keep different geographies and different priorities in conflict with each other."