Makkah Agreement | Pakistan

THE Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Aug 7, stands out for one clause: an attack on any of the three countries is an attack on all. Coming in the wake of the recent tensions in the Middle East, this agreement has the potential to reshape the strategic layout of the region. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has described the agreement as a reflection of a “shared commitment” to further strengthen the “collective security” of the region. Understandably, the Makkah Agreement does not give the specifics of the commitments that each side has made. Such matters lie in the realm of operational details that are generally kept confidential. What is, however, clear is that it is not a military bloc. Nor is it aimed at any specific country. Since these three countries have different threat perceptions, the agreement seems to be an attempt to enhance their collective deterrence and defence capabilities to deal with any aggression. In the midst of the US-Iran tensions, Saudi Arabia...