Turkey announces new defense pact and Black Sea maritime moratorium
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that the newly signed 'Mecca Joint Defense Agreement' between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is technically equivalent to NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause. Under this agreement, an armed attack against any of the three member states would be considered an attack against all. The alliance will establish a committee of ministers and a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia.
Fidan clarified that the pact is not directed at Iran, though he noted that Egypt could potentially join once technical issues are resolved. President Tayyip Erdogan reportedly seeks to expand the alliance.
In a separate diplomatic move, Turkey has called on Russia and Ukraine to declare a moratorium on attacks against commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Fidan expressed concern that attacks have expanded from ports and warships to include indiscriminate targeting of merchant ships, including those flying the Turkish flag. Turkey stated it is implementing its own security measures to address these maritime threats.
Entities: Hakan Fidan · Mecca Joint Defense Agreement · Pakistan · Russia · Saudi Arabia · Turkey · Ukraine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Turkey has requested Russia and Ukraine to declare a moratorium on attacks in the Black Sea. (Hakan Fidan)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An attack on any one of the three signatories would be considered an attack on all. (Hakan Fidan)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement includes a committee of ministers and a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia. (Hakan Fidan)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The defense pact between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is technically equivalent to NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause. (Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the defense pact between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is'technic')
- [● 4 SOURCES] The new defense alliance is not targeting Iran. (Hakan Fidan)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Turkey is implementing its own security measures regarding vessel attacks in the Black Sea. (Hakan Fidan)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Egypt is a potential candidate to join the new defense pact following the resolution of technical issues. (Hakan Fidan)