Turkey Denies Defense Pact Aimed at Iran or Any Other Country

Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, has clarified that the recent defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is not aimed at any particular country, including Iran. The agreement, signed in Mecca on Friday, brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan with Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and a rapidly growing defense industry.

The 'Mecca Joint Defense Agreement' states that an attack on one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three. This clause is similar to Article 5 of NATO, under which an attack on any member is considered an attack on all members.

Fidan emphasized that the agreement does not define a common threat and that any country not taking hostile action against them is not a target. He also stated that other nations have expressed interest in joining the agreement, with Egypt being a 'natural partner' expected to participate in the next stage.