Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Mecca Joint Defence Pact would not remain limited to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He hoped more regional countries would join.
In an interview with Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday (August 12), Erdogan said the goal was broader than three countries and that, if possible, all countries in the region could eventually join, creating a major step towards lasting regional stability.
He said tensions between the United States and Iran were important but the pact should not be viewed merely as a reaction to them. The pact threatens no country and is open to all brotherly countries seeking peace, prosperity and stability.
Erdogan said the pact had a long history and discussions had continued with other signatories and several regional countries. Turkey was consulting those countries to strengthen regional peace, stability and security.
He said externally imposed solutions had caused disasters and Turkey supported decisions led by regional countries’ wishes and collective wisdom. The pact reflected a strategic decision in a changed regional context, not an immediate response to daily events.
Pact reflects new regional situation
Erdogan called it a product of new regional circumstances and collective responsibility. Turkey believes regional countries should take responsibility for and solve their own problems. Recent events had made solidarity among friendly and brotherly countries more necessary. He said the pact was broader than cooperation among the three founding countries, an open framework for regional stability and a new era of cooperation and solidarity.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report