Image source: Anadolu via Getty Images
Today, Friday, Istanbul will host the first meeting of its kind that brings together the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with their counterparts from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, to discuss issues of concern to the Middle East and Europe and to enhance coordination between the participating countries.
The meeting comes at a time when expanding alliances and security cooperation mechanisms with Middle Eastern countries has become one of the most prominent features of Turkish foreign and security policy, within an approach adopted by Ankara and which it calls “the countries of the region taking the initiative.”
Within the framework of this approach, Türkiye played an active role in establishing the Mecca Alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and then in signing the Badr Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Through these initiatives, Ankara seeks to contribute to the formation of a new regional security system in the Middle East, and to open new markets for its expanding defense industries.
Image source: PPO/Reuters
What is the policy of “regional countries taking the lead”?
Türkiye has begun to implement a new foreign policy approach that it calls “regional states taking the lead,” especially after Hakan Fidan took office as Foreign Minister in June 2023.
Explaining this approach, Fidan said that the best way to solve regional problems is to establish cooperation mechanisms and alliances between the countries of the region themselves.
Fidan believes that the intervention of major powers from outside the region leads to an exacerbation of instability.
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In a statement he made in August, Fidan indicated that Türkiye was working to build “a regional security system based on the countries of the region taking the initiative.”
He said: "We always say that it is important to strengthen the role of the countries of the region in taking the initiative. Dominant external powers do not solve the region's problems, but rather exacerbate them, at a very high cost."
He added: "The countries of the region must move towards more established institutional frameworks to ensure their security, economic stability, development and prosperity."
Contacts conducted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with state leaders, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan with his counterparts since 2023, resulted in the establishment of three important mechanisms this year:
The first mechanism: the regional quartet
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According to sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the regional Quartet mechanism was established based on the principle that countries in the region take the lead, with the aim of “supporting lasting stability and promoting dialogue on regional issues.”
The foreign ministers of the four countries held their first meeting in Riyadh on March 18, 2026, and have met six times so far.
Their last meeting was in New York on September 21, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings. Today, Friday, October 23, they are scheduled to meet in Istanbul with the foreign ministers of the European Tripartite Group (E3), which includes Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
This will be the first meeting that brings together the countries of the Regional Quartet and the European Tripartite Group in this format, with the aim of discussing a group of issues of concern to the Middle East and Europe, and enhancing coordination between the participants.
Based on the results of the Istanbul meeting, it is expected that the formula of the Regional Quartet and the European Tripartite Group (R4+E3) will turn into a platform for holding periodic meetings in the future.
During recent talks with his European counterparts, Fidan exchanged views on the possibility of applying the approach of countries in the region taking the lead on issues that also concern the European continent.
Image source: Reuters
Egypt did not join the Mecca alliance
While the regional Quartet mechanism focuses primarily on political consultations and exchange of views, three of its countries, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 and announced the creation of an alliance known as the Mecca Alliance.
Egypt did not join the coalition.
International media reports indicated the desire of a number of countries, including Qatar, Kuwait and Bangladesh, to join it.
In response to a question about the possibility of new members joining, Fidan said: “This is an alliance that was originally created with the aim of expansion.”
Under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which was referred to the Turkish Parliament for ratification, the “core parties”, namely Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, are responsible for making decisions regarding the future joining of new countries in the coalition.
One of the most prominent provisions of the agreement, which consists of 16 articles, is that any armed attack from an external source on a member of the coalition is considered an attack on all its members.
This clause is similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to which Türkiye has belonged since 1952.
It is seen as an indication that security and defense cooperation between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has entered a new phase, and a tangible embodiment of the regional security system that Fidan spoke about.
Image source: ASELSAN
Will the influence of the Mecca alliance increase?
Türkiye, through the Mecca Alliance, has taken an important step towards establishing security relations in the Middle East similar to those it has with European and Atlantic countries.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan constantly stress that the coalition is not directed against any country, especially Israel, and that its goal is to strengthen the principles of collective deterrence and defense, similar to NATO.
US President Donald Trump announced that he viewed this initiative positively.
As Washington continues to consider a complete withdrawal from the Middle East, despite tensions with Iran, questions are raised about the extent to which the regional influence of the Mecca Alliance countries will grow in the future.
Saudi Arabia was unable to prevent attacks by the Houthis stationed in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has not yet received tangible military support from the member states of the Mecca Alliance.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced last week that the issue of providing possible military support to Saudi Arabia may be put on the agenda after the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (the Turkish Parliament) ratifies the alliance agreement.
Image source: @tcsavunma
Türkiye's latest moves: Badr Alliance
Cooperation in defense industries constitutes a fundamental pillar of Türkiye's bilateral and multilateral relations with countries in the region.
The Mecca Alliance also includes provisions that encourage cooperation in this field between member states.
The Badr Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed by defense officials from Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia in Doha on October 21, aims to enhance military cooperation between the four countries and combine their capabilities and capabilities in the defense industry sector.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense said in a statement issued on October 22:
“This memorandum aims to implement joint projects in defense industries, increase research and development activities, strengthen infrastructure and supply chains, develop joint production capabilities, and establish long-term and sustainable strategic partnerships between our countries.”
The Ministry added:
“The Mecca Defense Alliance and the Badr Memorandum of Understanding constitute tangible evidence of our country’s effectiveness on the international arena and its strategic cooperation. The memorandum will contribute to enhancing peace, security and stability at the regional and global levels.”
The countries participating in the Badr Alliance also expressed interest in participating in the Turkish fighter project "Kaan" (KAAN), which is still under development and is considered the first locally manufactured Turkish fighter.
Indonesia and Pakistan have already signed memorandums of understanding with Türkiye regarding this project.
Through this alliance, Türkiye seeks to continue developing its defense industries and deepen cooperation with participating countries through joint production and implementation of cooperative projects.
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