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Saudi Arabia has reportedly blocked Egypt from joining its new defence alliance with Türkiye and Pakistan, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, in a move that has been attributed to growing concerns over Cairo’s reliability and strategic alignment within the region.
According to sources, Riyadh has increasingly viewed Egypt under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as an unstable, aid-dependent partner with limited strategic and military value. These reservations are compounded by Cairo’s close alignment with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an arrangement that has been at odds with Saudi Arabia’s own foreign policy priorities.
Insiders claim that Saudi officials have been vocal in their criticism of Egypt’s dependence on foreign aid and its failure to assert itself as a significant regional player. This sentiment has been amplified by Egypt’s participation in a joint military intervention force alongside the UAE in Yemen, a move that has been interpreted by Riyadh as a reflection of Cairo’s unwavering allegiance to its Gulf allies.
The news comes against the backdrop of efforts by Türkiye to secure Egypt’s inclusion in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Ankara has reportedly played a pivotal role in orchestrating Cairo’s potential entry into the alliance, although efforts to this end have so far been unsuccessful.
Sources close to the matter note that Egypt could still have the opportunity to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in the future, provided that it demonstrates a marked improvement in terms of reliability and strategic alignment with Riyadh’s interests. Egyptian officials have thus far declined to comment on the matter, opting instead to stress the country’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and bolstering the stability of the Middle East.
Riyadh’s skepticism towards Cairo’s inclusion in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement has underscored a deepening rift within the Saudi-Egyptian alliance. As tensions within the Arab world continue to escalate, the Saudi-led alliance with Türkiye and Pakistan serves as a crucial counterweight to the UAE’s increasing influence in the region.