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

Saudi Arabia resisted Egypt's addition to the Mecca defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan, sources reveal. Despite Turkey's push for Cairo's inclusion, Riyadh did not want Egypt to join, according to three Saudi sources familiar with the discussions. The Saudi stance was rooted in growing frustration with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government and a belief that Egypt no longer provided the strategic or military value it once did.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in the Holy city of Mecca, commits Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan to view an armed attack against any one of the three as an attack on all three. Saudi officials describe it as a mechanism to strengthen joint defense capabilities, though the pact remains vague on operational mechanisms and execution in a crisis.

The Saudi decision to oppose Egypt's entry stemmed from simmering tensions between Riyadh and Cairo, with Saudi Arabia feeling let down by Egypt's limited and unreliable role in its war against Yemen's Houthis and its dependence on the UAE. Egypt's subordination to the UAE, particularly after tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over support for Southern Yemeni separatists, also contributed to Riyadh's opposition.