Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's Proposed 'Mecca Alliance' Could Reshape Middle East Politics, Says Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the proposed "Mecca Alliance" involving Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could become a game-changing initiative capable of reshaping the political landscape of the Middle East.

In a televised interview, Fidan said work on the alliance is progressing rapidly, driven by the strong political will of the three countries. He added that the alliance's headquarters would be inaugurated soon, with the deployment of the necessary military personnel to begin its operations.

Fidan stressed that the proposed alliance is not aimed at creating hostility toward any particular country. Instead, he said, its primary objective is to enable regional countries to strengthen their own defense capabilities and resolve their security challenges independently.

He reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia's security and helping protect the Kingdom from potential attacks. Dismissing criticism from countries such as Israel and India, which he said had portrayed the initiative as little more than a "paper alliance," Fidan argued that such reactions themselves demonstrate the alliance's potential strategic significance.

Commenting on the situation in Gaza and broader regional instability, the Turkish foreign minister accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fueling crises in Gaza and Syria to preserve his political position.

Fidan said Türkiye would continue to pursue all available diplomatic efforts in support of the Palestinian people. He also noted that following the fall of the Assad government in Syria, Ankara has been actively engaged in the country's reconstruction efforts. According to Fidan, Türkiye is implementing decisions reached during a meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit as part of broader efforts to restore regional peace and stability.

The foreign minister also outlined Türkiye's wider foreign policy priorities, including strengthening ties between President Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump, maintaining grain exports through the Black Sea despite the Russia-Ukraine war, and reducing tensions with Greece in the Aegean Sea.

Turning to emerging technologies, Fidan described artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical national security issue for the future. He said Türkiye must invest in advanced data centers and develop its own technological capabilities to remain competitive and safeguard its strategic interests in the new technological era.