by Ayush Pandey

Egypt could join a new regional defence pact signed by Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, as the three countries seek to strengthen collective security amid the wider Middle East conflict.

Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" on Friday, with the pact stipulating that an armed attack against one member would be regarded as an attack on all. The agreement was signed against the backdrop of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, which has affected countries across the region and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Fidan said Egypt was a likely candidate to join the alliance and described Cairo as a "natural partner on all issues".

"I believe that at the next stage Egypt will also be among us in the alliance. We already act toward one another as if we were alliance members," he said in an interview with state-run Anadolu news agency.

"There are a few technical issues. Once these are implemented, there is no reason for Egypt not to be part of it."

The comments came a day after the three countries signed the agreement, which Pakistan's foreign ministry said was "intended to strengthen collective deterrence".

Pact compared with NATO's Article 5

Fidan said the agreement was technically similar to NATO's Article 5, which provides for collective defence among the alliance's members.

In their joint statement, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia said the pact would strengthen collective deterrence against aggression and that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all.

However, Fidan stressed that the agreement was not directed against Iran or any other specific country.

"There is no common threat that we have put in writing," he said, according to Anadolu.

He said the pact was instead intended as a general commitment to support the security of its members. The three countries would decide through consultations what form and level of assistance would be required if one of them came under attack.

Turkey has also said the pact is not intended to replace existing alliances and remains open to other regional countries.

Turkey wants alliance to expand

Fidan said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wanted the alliance to eventually include more countries from the region.

"Under our president's vision, we should not remain limited to three countries. We should grow and, if necessary, bring all countries under this umbrella," he said.

He said the agreement had been under discussion for two years and eight months before being finalised.

"NATO is a giant military alliance where there are 32 countries. We have started here as three countries and we have to take very humble but concrete steps," he said.

The new alliance is expected to establish a committee of ministers and a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia. Fidan said operational details would be finalised during the first meeting of the committee.

Why Egypt matters

Egypt's potential inclusion would broaden the geographical reach of the emerging security arrangement and bring another major Arab country into the grouping.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt have already formed a group to discuss regional issues, including the war on Iran. Turkey has referred to the group as the R4 and said it aims to develop closer cooperation through concrete mechanisms.

Fidan's comments suggest that Ankara sees Egypt as a natural addition to the defence pact once the remaining technical issues are resolved.

The pact comes as the regional security situation has deteriorated following the US-Iran conflict. Iranian forces and their Houthi allies in Yemen have carried out attacks affecting regional security and shipping, while Gulf states have faced concerns over missile and drone attacks.

A drone attack last month also hit US assets at an Egyptian port on the Mediterranean. Fidan separately said Turkey should be involved in an international coalition aimed at protecting shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.

The Red Sea is a major trade route connecting the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Repeated attacks on commercial vessels have forced some shipping companies to reconsider routes and raised concerns over the security of maritime trade.

Fidan said the safety of shipping in the Red Sea directly concerned Turkey's interests.

The defence pact and the discussions over expanding it come as regional powers seek to strengthen security cooperation amid the wider conflict and growing threats to vital energy and trade routes.