By Alok Acharja

Military or economic agreements are very common in the modern world. This is to
protect security and economic mutual interests. Recently, there has been a lot of
discussion about the formation of a defense alliance between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and
Pakistan. In some places, this alliance is compared to the NATO. If an outside country
attacks these three countries, in principle, these three countries will come forward to
protect them. Apparently, the agreement is good and effective for all three countries.
Although military experts believe that the military equation in the Middle East is going
to take a new direction as a result of this agreement. Turkey is in a better position
militarily and economically among these three countries. The country is also the only
Muslim member of NATO. If we analyze it very simply, the three countries want to
maintain a balance. Moreover, there are indications that the Mecca agreement of these
three countries is expanding. Pakistan is the nuclear-capable country among the three
countries and is also more advanced militarily. And Saudi Arabia has been covered by a
US-dependent security system for so long, which has recently been damaged by the
Iranian attack. However, Pakistan needs the air of Saudi Arabia's economy. Pakistan's
economy has become more fragile in the last few years. There is intense movement in
Balochistan and Azad Kashmir. Balochistan has already declared its independence in
various media. The matter is not yet clear.

The entire country is under the pressure of severe inflation in the economy.
Unemployment is rising in the country. At this time, Saudi Arabia's financial assistance
can strengthen the country. In exchange, security, which was concluded through an
agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia a few days ago. This agreement, known
as the Mecca Joint Resistance Agreement, was signed in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi
Arabia, on Friday. The partners have jointly stated that an armed attack on any of the
three countries will be considered an attack on all. Adding this condition means
building a joint resistance against any aggression. That is, it is clear that it has made a
military agreement similar to NATO. As a result, Turkey also benefits. If a threat comes
from a Western country in the future, Turkey will immediately have the other two
countries on its side. Israel's growing influence is considered to pose some risk to
Pakistan. Pakistan will also benefit from it. The question is, why this agreement is made
now when the Middle East is on the verge of war and instability prevails. Moreover,
even if Saudi Arabia is confident in this agreement, can the rest of the Middle East
countries that were confident in the military structure of the United States and those
countries that have been targeted by Iran also come to this agreement now. It cannot be
said that the United States is now fully ready or able to provide security from an attack
by Iran or any other country. The Iranian attack itself caused extensive damage in the
Middle East. The target of which was mainly US military bases. As a result, countries
had to find new ways to secure themselves. Trump's changing attitude was also risky.
The tendency to impose conditions on different countries was also a risk for allies.
There was no guarantee that this would provide security to Middle Eastern countries in
the future.

The Mecca agreement had been under discussion for several years. Ankara, Riyadh and
Islamabad had been discussing a defense agreement for some time. The talks began
immediately after the Israeli Hamas attack on October 7,2023 and the subsequent Israeli
massacre in Gaza. It gained momentum after the US and Israeli aggression on Iran
began. All three countries in the agreement are particularly concerned about the
aggression on Iran and Israel's growing influence and attacks in the region. Israel has
occupied about one-fifth of Lebanon, demanding that it target the bases of the Lebanese
armed group Hezbollah (which Iran supports). In that case, it can be said that this
alliance will be very effective in uniting themselves from the perspective of this
aggression on Israel and responding to any kind of military aggression in the future. Al
Jazeera's Rasul Sardar from Ankara, Turkey, said that according to officials there, the
growing regional tensions have mainly forced these countries to come under one
umbrella.
The Mecca Collective Defense Treaty brings together three types of military power and
influence. It creates a powerful strategic triangle across West Asia and South Asia. As
one of the world’s largest oil exporters and the largest economy in the Arab world,
Saudi Arabia provides economic power, infrastructure, and political leadership to the
alliance. Riyadh’s influence within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the wider
Muslim world also lends the alliance diplomatic weight. Turkey, a NATO member with
the alliance’s second-largest army, has joined the alliance with advanced military
experience, a modern command system, and a strong domestic defense industry.
Turkey’s defense industry is capable of producing modern armored vehicles, naval
vessels, electronic warfare systems, and combat drones—giving the alliance advanced
military technology without Western export restrictions. On the other hand, Pakistan
provides one of the world’s largest standing armies and longstanding military
experience in the Arabian Peninsula. Discussions are now underway to determine which
other countries could come under the pact. Recently, there have been indications that
more countries may be included in the alliance, not limited to the three countries, as per
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's plan. In addition to Egypt, countries such as Qatar, Kuwait,
Azerbaijan, Syria and Jordan have also been mentioned as potential partners in the
discussions. Ankara wants to further expand the newly formed defense alliance of Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. According to analysts, this agreement could open a new
chapter in the security structure of the Middle East and the wider Muslim world.
However, it is not yet clear whether the agreement has taken the form of a full-fledged
military alliance or how many countries will join it in the future. Egypt's name has
already been discussed the most regarding the possible expansion. In addition, countries
such as Qatar, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Syria and Jordan have also been mentioned as
potential partners. If the alliance's members increase in this way, it will take the form of
an even stronger alliance, and if it becomes a full-fledged military alliance, it may also
emerge as an alternative to NATO.

Alok Acharja, Essayist and Columnist, Pabna.
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