Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as an important step aimed at sending a broader signal of solidarity to the Islamic world, saying the pact is already producing “positive developments.”
Erdogan made the remarks Sunday during a special meeting with young people in Samsun, in northern Türkiye, where he had traveled for the opening of Samsun City Hospital. His comments were released Monday.
Speaking at the ‘Meeting with Young People’ program, organized by the AK Party headquarters’ youth branches at the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality’s Yali Cafe Library, Erdogan said Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had come together to take a joint step.
“Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye came together and took a step. With this step, let us send a signal to the Islamic world,” Erdogan said, adding that there were “positive developments” and expressing confidence that the countries would succeed.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed last month and has emerged as a new framework for defense cooperation between the three countries.
Erdogan said the agreement should be viewed as part of a broader effort to address challenges facing Muslim countries and demonstrate greater solidarity across the Islamic world.
Erdogan calls for fairer international system
Erdogan made the comments while responding to a question about his long-standing criticism of the international system and his call that “the world is bigger than five.”
The phrase refers to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom — whose privileged position Erdogan has repeatedly criticized as unrepresentative and unfair.
He reiterated his call for reform of the international system and said Türkiye would continue advocating for what he described as “a fairer world.”
Gulf tensions raise concerns
The Turkish president also highlighted developments in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in the Gulf, warning that the Islamic world is facing serious challenges.
“We are following what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz,” Erdogan said. “And it is not only what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz; there are serious difficulties in many parts of the Gulf.”
He said Türkiye believes the difficulties confronting the Islamic world must be overcome as quickly as possible.
“To overcome these, Türkiye has put its weight behind the region, is doing so, and will continue to do so,” Erdogan said.
He stressed that Ankara could not afford to take the situation lightly because expectations from Türkiye were high.
“We cannot take this matter lightly, because expectations from Türkiye are high,” he added.
Ankara highlights regional role
Erdogan said the Makkah defense agreement reflected the decision by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to take a joint step and communicate a message to the wider Islamic world.
He also reiterated Türkiye’s intention to play an active role in addressing regional challenges, saying Ankara would continue to support efforts to overcome difficulties facing Muslim countries.
The Turkish president said his country had so far managed to remain insulated from the conflicts and crises affecting the surrounding region.
“At a difficult time when our region is grappling with crises, wars and conflicts, we have kept our nation away from these dangers,” Erdogan said.
Despite instability in neighboring regions, he added, Türkiye had made significant progress in multiple fields.
The remarks come as regional tensions remain high, particularly around the Gulf and the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, adding significance to the emerging defense cooperation between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
