Saudi Arabia blocks Egypt from new regional defense pact

On Friday, August 7, 2026, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. This pact mandates that an armed attack against any of the three member nations will be considered an attack on all participants. The agreement was finalized in Mecca following a decision made just days prior, and it was signed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While reports indicate that Turkey pushed for Egypt to be included in this regional framework, Saudi Arabia actively opposed Cairo's participation. According to three Saudi sources, the kingdom is not interested in Egyptian involvement at this time, citing growing dissatisfaction with the government of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and a perceived decline in Egypt's strategic and military value. Conversely, other reports suggest Egypt may have chosen to remain outside the agreement to balance its own regional relationships with Israel and the United Arab Emirates.