Vedran: 'Mecca Agreement' Comparable to NATO Charter

Ankara – Agencies: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan affirmed that the joint defense agreement signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan is technically similar to the collective defense principle enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) charter, while stressing at the same time that it does not target Iran or any other country... (See page 12). In an interview with the official Anadolu Agency, Fidan explained that the agreement is based on the principle that any armed attack on one of the three countries constitutes an attack on all of them, emphasizing that no state would be a target of the agreement unless it initiates an attack against one of its parties. He added that the three countries intend to establish a ministerial committee for coordination, similar to mechanisms operating within NATO, along with a general secretariat for the agreement headquartered in Saudi Arabia. Fidan also linked the agreement to maritime security in the Red Sea, affirming that the stability of navigation routes there represents a direct interest for Turkey. He stated that his country should be part of the Saudi-led international coalition to ensure maritime security in the Red Sea, signaling that security cooperation among the three countries may extend beyond joint defense to include maritime security issues and the protection of trade routes.