Exclusive: Saudi Arabia opposed Egypt's inclusion in Mecca agreement, sources say

Saudi Arabia has reportedly blocked the inclusion of Egypt in a new joint defense agreement signed recently with Turkey and Pakistan. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Saudi government resisted the expansion of the pact despite active advocacy from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to include Cairo in the security arrangement.

The development highlights ongoing diplomatic complexities regarding the formation of the new defense pact. While Turkey sought to broaden the scope of the agreement to incorporate Egypt, the Saudi opposition effectively limited the membership to the existing signatories, marking a notable point of friction in the regional security discussions.