Pakistan says ‘purely defensive’ Mecca accord is open to others

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar affirmed that the newly signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is intended solely for defense purposes and remains open to other regional nations. The landmark accord, signed on Friday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to bolster security cooperation amid tensions between the United States and Iran.

Dar stated on Sunday that the Mecca accord, dubbed as such, is "purely defensive in nature" and welcomes the participation of countries willing to uphold its principles and resolve disputes peacefully.

The agreement stipulates that any armed attack against one of the three signatories will be considered an attack against all parties, aligning with the collective self-defense principle enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Dar emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to regional peace and stability and emphasizes that the Makkah Accord does not supersede existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between the involved countries or with other entities.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed Dar's sentiments, asserting that the pact is not directed against any specific nation, including Iran. He hinted at the potential inclusion of other regional states, such as Egypt, contingent upon resolving technical matters. Egypt's potential accession would introduce a major military power and a crucial Sunni Muslim-majority country to the alliance.

The three countries involved in the Mecca accord each bring distinct capabilities to the arrangement. Pakistan, the only Muslim nation with nuclear weapons, offers extensive military expertise; Saudi Arabia contributes substantial economic resources and regional influence; while NATO member Turkey boasts a sizable military and an advancing defense industry.

Despite the heightened regional tensions leading to the agreement's signing, analysts in Islamabad cautioned against interpreting it as a collective defense pact against Iran or other countries. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long-standing military ties, having signed a mutual-defence agreement in September of the previous year, while Pakistan and Turkey have also deepened their defense-industrial cooperation recently.