Why the Mecca Agreement is a necessary show of force

In a move seen as a necessary show of force, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on August 7, 2026. The agreement, which has been three years in the making, comes after Israel's continuous aggression in Gaza, the Occupied West Bank, South Lebanon, and Iran.

The agreement marks a significant shift in the Middle East's power dynamics, with the three regional powers breaking the cycle of colonial domination by Israel. This move comes after years of impotence, during which the countries did nothing as Israel continued its genocidal actions.

China's view of the pact as a result of the US and Israel's military disaster in Iran suggests that the region is questioning America's military strength and ability to protect them. The pact involves countries with substantial military capabilities, including over 5,600 main battle tanks, over 1,100 combat fighter jets, a fleet of drones, ballistic missiles, and a nuclear deterrent.

For Pakistan, the pact provides a much-needed economic boost and a strategic counterweight to India. It also helps the Turkish military industrial complex to establish new markets. However, former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal criticized the pact as a "very negative development for Indian interests".

Turkey, on the other hand, needs a nuclear deterrent, particularly against Israeli threats, and wants to help the new Syrian government force the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Southern Syria. Despite Erdogan's warnings of international isolation, the pact could prove to be a formidable military alliance.