Recep Tayyip Erdogan says defense pact "targets no country" and welcomes all brotherly nations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration is expanding a new defense agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which mirrors NATO's mutual defense principles. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Egypt is a potential candidate for membership, emphasizing the pact's aim to bolster collective deterrence against aggression without targeting any specific nation. The accord, designed to strengthen security cooperation and combat terrorism, is seen as a step toward broader regional stability, with Erdogan expressing a desire for its growth to include other countries committed to regional peace.