Why Egypt held back from joining Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's defence pact

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have signed a defense pact, formalized this week when Turkish President Erdogan made an unannounced visit to Mecca. The agreement includes a collective-defense clause similar to NATO's article five—an attack on one member triggers a response from all. Notably absent: Egypt, which declined to join despite two years of Turkish efforts to bring Cairo into the alliance. Middle East Eye reports that Egypt's reluctance stems from its precarious position between regional blocs: it maintains a defense treaty with the UAE, navigates rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, and must carefully preserve its diplomatic ties with Israel. Turkish officials say Egypt may join eventually, once the pact establishes itself as a credible deterrent.

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