Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Sign Their Own "Article 5"

The defense pact between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is, from a technical standpoint, analogous to the mutual defense agreement enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.

He added that the agreement is not directed against Iran.

Fidan told the state-run Anadolu news agency that a committee of ministers similar to that in NATO will be established within the alliance. A general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia will also be set up.

Once certain technical issues are resolved, Egypt could also join the pact, the Turkish minister added.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the agreement on Friday.

(Reuters, luc)