Erdogan: Mecca Agreement is the Foundation of a New Security System in the Middle East

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that the Mecca defense agreement signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan is not a situational response to the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. According to him, it should lay the groundwork for a new model of regional security.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Erdogan emphasized that the agreement is not limited to military cooperation. “The main objective of the agreement is to strengthen deterrence, reinforce solidarity among the parties, and enhance awareness in the security domain,” stated the Turkish president.

Erdogan noted that the agreement is based on the right to self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and is not directed against any country. Ankara is also ready to welcome the participation of other regional states in the initiative. “Our framework is not limited to three countries,” he remarked, expressing hope that under favorable conditions in the future, all countries in the region could unite within a single mechanism.

One of the key principles of the agreement is collective deterrence; a threat to the security of one party should be regarded as a threat to the security of the other participants. The document also envisions the development of cooperation in defense industry, joint projects, and combating terrorism.

Erdogan also stated that regional countries must take greater responsibility for their own security instead of relying on external forces' decisions. He assessed that externally proposed solutions have repeatedly had disastrous consequences for the Middle East.

Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, the Turkish president called it “a vital artery of the global economy.” He expressed hope that the current tensions would end as quickly as possible, and that the strait would once again become a safe and uninterrupted route for international trade.

Erdogan also addressed Lebanon, calling for an immediate halt to Israeli strikes against the country. Regarding Syria, he mentioned that “a new page has been opened,” but Ankara will not allow the existence of structures within Syria that pose a threat to Turkey's national security.