In an exclusive interview with journalist Ali Al-Dhafiri for Al Jazeera’s “Al Muqabala” program, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made notable remarks on Türkiye’s regional security policy and the emerging balance of power in the Middle East.
One of the interview’s main topics was the future of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Erdoğan said the agreement was not limited to the three countries and was open to the participation of additional countries.
President Erdoğan also said that Egypt could join the agreement, delivering Ankara’s clearest message to date that Cairo could become part of the new defense framework.
Erdoğan: Egypt could join
Al Jazeera said Erdoğan emphasized that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was structured in a way that would allow it to expand in the future.
Erdoğan described Egypt’s possible participation as one of the options for expanding the agreement.
The statement is particularly significant as relations between Türkiye and Egypt have normalized again in recent years, while military and diplomatic contacts between the two countries have increased.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also said Cairo’s possible participation was being seriously considered, but that the issue needed to be carefully examined in light of Egypt’s constitutional and legal obligations.
Mecca agreement brings three countries together in joint defense
The new defense mechanism established between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan significantly advances the three countries’ cooperation in regional security.
One of the agreement’s main provisions is based on the principle that an armed attack against one party will be considered an attack against the other parties as well.
For this reason, the agreement has been compared in the international press with Article 5 of NATO.
However, Pakistani officials stressed that the new mechanism should not be viewed directly as a “regional NATO” and was not established against any particular country.
Erdoğan said the agreement had delivered an important message to the world.
Egypt’s participation could create a new four-country defense axis
Egypt’s possible participation could significantly increase the military and geopolitical weight of the existing three-country framework.
Türkiye has one of NATO’s largest armies, while Pakistan is the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf’s most important military and economic powers.
If Egypt joins the framework, four major regional actors spanning the Eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Gulf and South Asia will be part of the same defense mechanism.
However, Egypt’s membership is not a finalized decision at this stage. While Erdoğan raised it as a possible expansion option, Cairo says the issue is under consideration.
Gaza, Syria and Lebanon also featured in the interview
Erdoğan’s Al Jazeera interview was not limited to the Mecca Agreement.
The president also discussed Türkiye’s position on developments in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon.
Erdoğan said Ankara would not abandon countries in the region facing crises.
He particularly stressed that Türkiye would not stand by as its neighbor Syria was dragged into renewed instability.
In its initial information about the interview, Al Jazeera said Erdoğan had emphasized that Syria and Gaza would not be abandoned.
Erdoğan says he discussed Lebanon with Trump
One of the notable statements in the interview concerned Lebanon.
Erdoğan said Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon were a serious source of concern for Türkiye.
The president also revealed that he told U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump’s latest visit to Türkiye that the war in Lebanon needed to end.
Erdoğan indicated that Washington could play an important role in ending the conflict.
Erdoğan outlines Ankara’s priority for the Strait of Hormuz
Another important issue raised in the Al Jazeera interview was the Strait of Hormuz.
Erdoğan said reopening the strategic waterway was one of Türkiye’s priorities.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical sea routes for the Gulf countries’ oil and natural gas exports.
Erdoğan said maintaining the current situation in the strait served no party’s interests and underscored the importance of restoring normal transit.
Erdoğan praises Qatar’s mediation role
President Erdoğan also addressed Qatar’s role while assessing diplomatic initiatives in the region.
Erdoğan said the government in Doha had made significant contributions to mediation efforts aimed at ending regional conflicts and reducing tensions.
In recent years, Qatar has become an important diplomatic actor in establishing channels for negotiations between parties in various regional crises, particularly Gaza.
Erdoğan’s remarks showed that Ankara continues to support Qatar’s role.
Erdoğan delivers notable message on the EU
One of the interview’s most important sections concerning Türkiye’s relations with the West focused on the European Union.
Erdoğan said the European Union did not appear willing to admit Türkiye as a member and stated that EU membership was no longer a priority for Türkiye.
Türkiye has held candidate status for EU membership since 1999, and formal accession negotiations began in 2005.
However, the membership process has effectively been stalled for a long time.
Erdoğan’s latest statement represents a strong political message reflecting the current state of Ankara’s approach to EU membership.
Erdoğan says Europe will be the losing side
Erdoğan also assessed the consequences of Europe keeping Türkiye outside the bloc.
The president argued that Europe would be the losing side if the current approach continued.
The statement carries additional significance when considered alongside the new diplomatic and security mechanisms Türkiye has developed recently with Gulf countries, Pakistan, Egypt and other regional powers.
Ankara’s new regional security strategy
The broader framework of Erdoğan’s interview with Al Jazeera indicates that Türkiye’s foreign-policy priorities are increasingly turning toward regional security mechanisms.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement stands out as one of the clearest examples of this policy.
If the agreement bringing Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan together under the same defense mechanism expands to include countries such as Egypt, it could have a significant impact on security balances in the Middle East.
At this stage, however, no new membership in the expansion process has been finalized.
Erdoğan’s statement shows that Ankara is politically open to Egypt’s participation.
Full interview to air Sunday evening
Al Jazeera announced that the full exclusive interview Erdoğan gave to Ali Al-Dhafiri would air on Sunday evening on the “Al Muqabala” program.
The sections released so far cover a broad foreign-policy agenda, ranging from the Mecca Defense Agreement to Egypt, Gaza, Syria and Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz and Türkiye-EU relations.
Erdoğan’s clear statement that Egypt could join the Türkiye-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defense mechanism has been one of the interview’s most important new messages made public so far.
Once the full interview airs, further details of Erdoğan’s statements on these issues and his answers to other questions will become available.
