Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi defence pact open to others

Turkey's foreign minister said the Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi defence pact is not aimed at any country and is open to other states, including possibly Egypt.

Hakan Fidan spoke in Istanbul after the first ministerial meeting of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which commits Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to mutual defence if any of them is attacked.

Fidan said the alliance was based on respect for state sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. He said it was open to countries in the region that follow those principles.

Asked whether other countries including Egypt could join, Fidan said it was possible but that consultations were continuing on membership conditions, procedures and standards. He said the countries were also working on a roadmap for joining the alliance.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the talks, along with defence ministers from all three countries and their military chiefs of staff.