Houthis in Yemen are putting Mecca Pact to the test
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), signed on August 7, 2021, between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, aims to create a trilateral framework for collective deterrence. The pact is based on Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows states to engage in individual and collective self-defence. However, the Mecca Pact has failed to shield Saudi Arabia from the ongoing Houthi attacks, despite being labeled as an "Islamic NATO" by some sources.
The primary reason for its shortcomings is the lack of a formal organizational structure and legally binding defense terms. Additionally, Türkiye and Pakistan need to secure parliamentary approval, while Saudi Arabia requires a royal decree to ratify the agreement. The pact's implementation challenges, coupled with differing strategic interests among the three nations, have hindered its effectiveness.
Although the EU has shown diplomatic solidarity against the recent Houthi strikes, it is unlikely to provide direct military assistance to Saudi Arabia due to human rights concerns.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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