Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Mecca pact ‘far from’ Nato-style defence alliance
The security pact signed on Friday by three of the world’s most powerful Muslim nations with a vow to enhance collective deterrence remains far from what many are calling an Islamic Nato, according to experts. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf’s top oil exporter, Nato member Turkey and Pakistan, a nuclear-armed South Asian state, will be challenged by…
Three of the world's most powerful Muslim nations—Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan—signed a security pact on Friday to enhance collective deterrence, but experts say it remains far from an Islamic NATO. Diverging strategic interests and weak mutual defense capacity are expected to challenge the agreement. The pact's collective defense principle, where an attack on any member is viewed as an attack on all, is similar to NATO's Article 5, though experts stress it's not directed against Iran or any other country unless the pact's member states are attacked.
Tehran has dismissed the pact as a response to Israel's ambitions and declining regional confidence in US security guarantees. Despite agreeing to resume negotiations, the US and Iran have exchanged fire, further dimming hopes for a comprehensive deal to end the war. Observers note that similar attempts to build a sustainable defense alliance in the region have been short-lived and often deepened divisions.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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