The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August 2026 by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan amid the Iran war and renewed Houthi threats in Yemen, has drawn expressions of interest from several states seeking collective security arrangements. Egyptian officials stated in mid-October that Cairo is prepared to join, building on prior R4 consultations, while Pakistan’s foreign minister noted more than six unnamed countries have signaled interest, including potential candidates such as Qatar, Bangladesh, and Syria. The pact’s activation in early October, with deployment of Turkish and Pakistani forces to Saudi Arabia, has heightened attention to expansion timelines before the December 31 deadline. Trader consensus reflects limited near-term accession prospects, given procedural requirements, differing national priorities, and the absence of completed accessions to date despite diplomatic statements.