Commentary: A new ‘NATO of the East’? Why the Mecca pact isn’t quite what it seems
The agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is an experiment in regional self-reliance, says this professor.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan have come together to form the Mecca Joint Defence Pact, a new pact aimed at regional self-reliance. Though comparisons have been drawn with NATO, this arrangement falls short of being a true military alliance. Instead, it serves as a form of strategic insurance for the three nations seeking enhanced protection and influence beyond traditional American guarantees.
The pact's promise of collective defense against an armed attack on any of the parties has sparked discussions about its potential impact on security dynamics in the Middle East, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean.
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