Israeli Official Warns Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Defense Pact Targets Israel, Egypt May Join

A senior Israeli official expressed concern on Monday about a new defense agreement signed last weekend between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan in Mecca, describing it as a coalition directed against Israel. The pact, known as the "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement," was finalized on Friday during a meeting of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Reports indicate that Egypt is also a potential candidate to join this alliance.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the state news agency Anadolu that the agreement resembles NATO's Article 5, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The pact will include a ministerial committee and a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia. The Israeli official warned that the alliance is not aimed at Iran, as claimed, but rather targets Israel, highlighting the growing strength of the Sunni axis as the Shiite axis weakens.

The official urged Israel to build alternative alliances, particularly with the "Hellenic axis" (Greece and Cyprus), India, and the United Arab Emirates, to maintain strength and regional relevance. He also described the Turkey-Erdogan factor as dangerous and said Israel would not be surprised if Egypt joined the "Mecca alliance."

The pact comes amid efforts by the three countries to enhance their independent military capabilities in a turbulent Middle East. Reuters noted that alongside concerns about Iran and its proxies, the three nations are increasingly wary of Israel's military policies and question the ability of the United States, their longtime ally, to contain regional escalation.

Pakistan emphasized that the agreement aims to improve all aspects of security cooperation among the oil-rich Saudi Arabia, nuclear-armed Pakistan, and Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and a rapidly growing defense industry. Turkish media suggested the pact could lead to joint military exercises and intelligence sharing. Following the signing, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif called on the Islamic world to unite against the "common threat" posed by Israel, urging coordinated action to confront this challenge.