Turkey’s Foreign Minister Says Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact Is “Technically” Like NATO’s Article 5

Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan said the defence pact signed by Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is “technically the same” as NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence principle. Speaking to state media, he said the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement treats an armed attack on any member as an attack on all, while adding that the pact is not directed at Iran. Fidan also said the alliance could expand and that a ministerial committee structure and a secretariat in Saudi Arabia would be established.