Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan plan to consider adding further countries to their new defense alliance, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s vision, the grouping would not remain limited to its three founding members. The countries signed the “Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement” last Friday.

The agreement states that an attack on any one member will be treated as an attack on all three. Egypt has emerged most clearly as a possible next member, with Fidan calling it a natural partner and saying Cairo could join once technical issues are resolved. Egypt remains cautious about military commitments, seeking to preserve independent decision-making on relations with the United States, its peace treaty with Israel, and regional issues including Libya.

Qatar and Kuwait are also receiving attention in possible expansion because of their close ties with the three founders, analysts said. Former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani expressed hope that other GCC members would seek to join. Analysts also cited Azerbaijan, Syria and Jordan as possible future participants, while noting differing interests and regional disputes could hinder a unified military bloc.