'Iran is not the target': Fidan assesses creation of new military bloc

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement in Mecca. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the alliance is defensive in nature and not directed against Iran. Talks are underway on Egypt's accession. Fidan also noted that Israel fears international isolation.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed a trilateral mutual defense agreement in Mecca, based on the principle of collective deterrence: an attack on one member is considered aggression against all. The document expands on the bilateral arrangements between Riyadh and Islamabad concluded in autumn 2025. Ankara's accession, as a NATO member with one of the largest armies, strengthens the geopolitical weight of the alliance. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the mutual protection mechanisms replicate the logic of NATO Article 5. He emphasized that the agreement is not directed against Iran: 'Iran is not the target, and no one is the target as long as he does not attack member states.' Diplomats from the three countries maintain contacts with Tehran to deter escalation. Fidan reported on negotiations for Egypt's accession, calling it a natural partner for Ankara, and expressed confidence that the alliance would become a 'regional quartet.' He also stated that Israel's key fear is international isolation, and that the world community sees the gap between the illusion being created and reality.