The Middle East Eye website, associated with the Qatari-Turkish line, reported citing a source in Ankara that "Turkey made a significant effort to recruit Egypt to the defense alliance signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan," but it refused. Another source in Ankara said Egypt's decision not to join the alliance stemmed mainly from its sensitive relations with Israel. According to the source, Cairo would have had to withstand heavy pressure from Israel if it ultimately chose to join the defense alliance. Additionally, it was noted that Egypt has a defense agreement with the United Arab Emirates, and according to one of the sources, Cairo "does not want to choose any side – neither Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on one hand, nor Israel, the United Arab Emirates and India on the other." The report has no confirmation from other sources or in Egypt.