ANKARA, Turkey (AP) 鈥� A between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey is not aimed against Iran or any other country, Turkey鈥檚 foreign minister said Saturday, describing the pact as an important step toward regional stability.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on Friday. It states that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all three.
The 鈥淢ecca Joint Defense Agreement鈥� brings together oil-rich and nuclear power Pakistan as well as Turkey, which has and a rapidly growing defense industry. It deepens cooperation and deterrence at a time of increased regional uncertainty and threats from the war in Iran.
In an interview with Turkey鈥檚 state-run Anadolu Agency, Turkey鈥檚 Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan insisted that the three countries do not view any particular state as an adversary unless they take hostile action against them.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have anything written down 鈥� nothing we鈥檝e signed 鈥� that defines a common threat,鈥� Fidan said. 鈥淎ny country that does not attack us is not a target for us.鈥�
The Turkish minister described the agreement’s clause on mutual defense as being 鈥渢echnically the same鈥� as , under which an attack on one of the 32 members is considered an attack on them all.
Asked how the mechanism would work, Fidan said a member would need to formally request help and that the other two countries鈥� assistance could range from intelligence sharing to logistic support 鈥� or the deployment of military units depending on the threat.
鈥淭hese are multi鈥憀ayered matters that vary according to the scale of the threat,鈥� Fidan said. 鈥淭his is the perspective we have set out so far in our work.鈥�
The Turkish minister said other nations 鈥� which he did not name 鈥� have expressed interest in joining the agreement, adding that he expects Egypt, which he described as a 鈥渘atural partner,鈥� to participate 鈥渁t the next stage.鈥�
Under the deal, the foreign and defense ministers of the three countries, along with their military chiefs, would hold regular committee meetings. The three countries would also establish a secretariat, to be based in Saudi Arabia, Fidan said.
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