Making Mecca Agreement and Abraham Accords compatible

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, could potentially alter the Middle East's security order. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam's holiest cities Mecca and Medina and a major oil producer, Turkey, a key NATO military force with a strong defense sector, and Pakistan, the sole Muslim-majority nation to possess nuclear weapons, could redefine the region's security dynamics and impact events beyond the Middle East.

Initially, many observers were doubtful about the agreement's practicality, as they perceived the three countries to have distinct security interests and strategic objectives. However, contrary to these assumptions, the alliance progressed swiftly. Within weeks, they established a secretariat in Saudi Arabia. Following a resurgence in Houthi attacks, Pakistan bolstered its military backing, while Turkey offered air defense and technical assistance.

The agreement's primary feature mirrors Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which stipulates collective defense – if one ally is attacked, all allies respond. This provision could serve as a powerful deterrent against potential aggressors. The agreement’s compatibility with the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations, further underscores the geopolitical implications of this new alliance.