Egypt could join the joint defense pact signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the future, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. He indicated that the alliance would remain open to additional members.

Describing the joint defense agreement signed in Mecca as an important regional message, Erdogan said the three countries would coordinate their response if any member state came under armed attack from an external party.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s Al Muqawala programme, the Turkish president also spoke about the possibility of expanding the alliance, saying Egypt could be among the potential new members.

Known as the “Mecca Pact,” the agreement was signed last Friday in the holy city of Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three. Analysts have therefore compared the pact’s collective defense framework with NATO’s Article 5.

Pakistani officials, however, have said the agreement should not be viewed as equivalent to NATO and stressed that it is not directed against any particular country.

During the interview, Erdogan also discussed various regional issues. Addressing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon, he said reopening the strategic waterway is one of Ankara’s key priorities.

According to the Turkish president, keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed is in no party’s interest. He also praised Qatar’s important role in mediation efforts aimed at resolving conflicts in the region.