C Raja Mohan writes: The Mecca Accord exposes Arab weakness

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, highlights the weakness of Arab nations, as remarked by Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy seven decades ago. Suhrawardy, Pakistan's prime minister during the Suez crisis, dismissed Arab solidarity, stating "Zero plus zero plus zero still amounts to zero."

His words proved prophetic, as the Baghdad Pact, the Regional Cooperation for Development, and the Gulf Cooperation Council have all failed to achieve their objectives. The Gulf Cooperation Council is now divided on Iran, and the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation serve more as forums for declarations than instruments of action.

The Mecca Accord is not a sign of Islamic security self-reliance, but rather a hedge against American unreliability. It reflects the enduring Arab weakness and the rise of non-Arab powers like Israel, Turkey, and Iran. India, despite its potential, has not actively engaged in regional security. Instead of focusing on the Mecca Accord, India should expand its own military engagement in the Middle East, building capabilities to project power and deepen political and security partnerships.