Mecca Joint Defence Agreement: If India launches another Operation Sindoor, will Saudi and Turkey fight for Pakistan?

A new defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan has sparked a question for India: would Riyadh and Ankara come to Islamabad's aid if New Delhi carries out another strike like Operation Sindoor? The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on Friday, states that an armed attack against any one of the three nations is considered an attack against all three.

The pact aims to boost defence cooperation and collective deterrence; however, it does not automatically obligate Saudi Arabia or Turkey to go to war with India if Indian forces strike Pakistan. The precise military obligations of the agreement, including the form of assistance and decision-making, remain undisclosed. This distinction could be crucial if India and Pakistan engage in another military confrontation.

The main question would be whether India's operation would be considered an "armed attack" by the three countries. The pact is more of a regional deterrent rather than a means to escalate wars. Experts argue that the pact strengthens deterrence but is not intended to widen the scope of conflicts. Turkish officials describe the pact as "purely defensive" and not directed against any specific country.

Turkey's support during Operation Sindoor, particularly in UAVs and electronic warfare, indicates its willingness to back Pakistan during a conflict with India. Riyadh has deep security ties with Pakistan and already had a bilateral mutual-defence agreement before Turkey joined the arrangement. Although Saudi Arabia has significant economic and strategic interests in India, Pakistan did not come to aid of Pakistan when it was engaged in a confrontation with Afghanistan.

If India launches another operation similar to Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, the treaty could increase complexity in India's strategic planning, but it does not guarantee that Saudi Arabia or Turkey would automatically enter the war.