Egypt rejected an invitation to join the “Sunni NATO”

Egypt received an offer to join a new defense alliance between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, but has declined to participate at this stage, according to the Egyptian newspaper Mada Masr, citing a source familiar with the negotiations.

The newspaper notes that Cairo is not ruling out the possibility of joining the alliance in the future and advocates for a broader cooperation format focused primarily on the political resolution of regional crises.

Turkiye Today attributes Egypt’s reluctance to join the bloc to its close strategic ties with Greece and Cyprus, which remain at loggerheads with Turkey. Furthermore, Cairo is developing economic ties with India, which an alliance involving Pakistan could hinder.

The Arabic Post believes that Egypt fears being drawn into a war against Iran.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the defense agreement on August 7 in Mecca. It stipulates that an armed attack on one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all participants.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan previously stated that Ankara hopes for Egypt’s accession in the future. He added that several technical issues still need to be resolved for this to happen.

Egyptian authorities have not yet officially announced their refusal to join the union.