Egyptian Foreign Minister: We were previously aware of the Mecca Defense Agreement, but it requires in-depth constitutional and legal study
Cairo, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday that Egypt was previously aware of the defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey (the Mecca Agreement), clarifying that “such agreements require in-depth study in light of the Egyptian Constitution and legal obligations.”
During a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in the new city of Alamein, Abdelatty affirmed that Egypt maintains distinguished relations with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey within the framework of the “Regional Quartet,” stressing that these ties extend beyond political aspects to encompass multiple fields.
He added, “Certainly, there are many ideas and initiatives regarding security arrangements in the region amid unprecedented security challenges. We are addressing these ideas and initiatives, including the initiative on Red Sea security, with utmost seriousness. However, due to differing constitutional and legal considerations, they are being studied in depth to reach the required decision.”
He noted that discussions with his Turkish counterpart covered regional issues of mutual interest, emphasizing full rejection and condemnation of all violations committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, whether in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, or in Gaza. He also stressed the complete rejection of any infringement on their rights and condemned settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Abdelatty pointed out that the talks underscored the importance of intensifying cooperation between Egypt and Turkey to support a Libyan solution, swiftly ending the current division, and preserving Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while condemning Israeli interventions.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of a ceasefire and launching a comprehensive political process in Sudan, stressing the need to ensure humanitarian aid reaches all Sudanese regions and to halt support for the Rapid Support Forces militia with weapons.
Regarding bilateral relations, Abdelatty expressed his satisfaction with the holding of the second meeting of the Joint Planning Group between the two countries, which reflects a shared political will to elevate relations between the two nations.
He explained that the talks reviewed various aspects of bilateral cooperation and assessed the tangible progress achieved in recent periods, noting that economic and trade relations have gained increasing momentum, reflecting mutual trust between the business communities of both countries. They also welcomed the continuous growth in bilateral trade volume, which reached nearly $9 billion, and reaffirmed the shared aspiration to achieve the target of $15 billion in intra-regional trade.
He added that today’s meeting addressed enhancing joint cooperation in the fields of industry and joint manufacturing, as well as technical training, technology transfer, and human skills development, alongside energy, logistics, and transport sectors, thereby strengthening regional connectivity.
He noted that an agreement was reached to enhance connectivity between international trade corridors and intensify institutional and technical coordination, contributing to strengthening regional and global supply chains.
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed during the press conference that bilateral relations with Egypt “are progressing well and are set to become more comprehensive,” emphasizing a shared desire to develop these relations in several areas.
He added, “We aim to elevate our relations with Egypt to their highest levels,” noting that bilateral trade relations were discussed during the talks, along with the necessity of reaching a trade volume of $15 billion.
He clarified that regional issues were also discussed, with emphasis on the need to halt Israeli practices against the Palestinian people, who are enduring a tragedy in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He stated, “We are working closely with Egypt on the Gaza issue to achieve peace.”
In this context, he stressed the importance of implementing the second phase of the peace plan for Gaza, calling on the United States to pressure the Israeli occupation to adhere to the Gaza peace plan.
He pointed out that Egypt and Turkey are determined to achieve unity and sovereignty in Libya, noting alignment between the two countries regarding the Libyan issue and the necessity of ending the war in Sudan. (End) A.S.M./H.S.S.
