Saudi, Egyptian and Turkish foreign ministers hold talks in Alamein

Saudi, Egyptian, and Turkish foreign ministers convened in Alamein, Egypt on Thursday to address regional matters and strengthen defense collaboration. The gathering, attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, aimed to discuss recent developments in the region and explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation.

During the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed Turkey's aspiration for Egypt to join the defense agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Fidan's remarks, made from Egypt, reiterated Ankara's interest in Egypt's involvement in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty clarified that the legal and constitutional aspects of Egypt's potential participation in the agreement are being meticulously examined.

The meeting took place amid ongoing regional tensions, primarily stemming from the fifth month of the US-Iran conflict. This conflict has had significant repercussions for regional actors and has disrupted maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been actively engaged in addressing the challenges posed by the conflict and promoting regional stability.

Following the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed his hope that Egypt would become an official partner in the defense agreement. He noted that Turkey has maintained open communication with Egypt throughout the process and that consultations regarding the agreement are ongoing. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized Egypt's existing strong bilateral relations with the signatory parties and highlighted the ongoing coordination between all involved nations.