Turkey has indicated that this agreement will not be limited to only three countries. Turkey has said that this agreement should be expanded and if necessary, many countries should be brought under its purview. Is this America’s ploy?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have recently approved the Mecca Agreement. On the lines of NATO, an attack on one country included in this group will be considered an attack against all countries. There is a lot of stir in West Asia regarding this agreement. Mecca Agreement is also being called the beginning of Islamic NATO. Now there is discussion that America is behind Islamic NATO. Experts are considering this agreement between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia not just as a defense agreement, but as a response to the changing equations in the region. There is also news that many countries will still enter this agreement.
Let us tell you that like Article 5 of NATO, the main provision of the Mecca Pact is that an armed attack on any one member country will be considered an attack on all the members. The agreement has come at a time when questions are being raised on America’s security system in and around West Asia. Those countries where American military bases are present also came under the grip of Iran’s missile and drone attacks. In such a situation, the Mecca Agreement is being considered as the answer to the changing global system.
America itself paved the way for the Mecca agreement?
According to Saudi Arabian political scientist Mansour Almarzooqi, the Mecca Agreement is the foundation of a larger system. At the same time, strategic expert Tara Kartha has also raised questions on America’s role in this agreement. He told that an American lawmaker had claimed that President Donald Trump had helped in making the Mecca agreement. Let us tell you that American Republican MP Joe Wilson had written on Twitter that the mutual defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan is another example of Trump’s efforts to promote stability, peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Shia clerics under the leadership of Shia scholar Agha Syed Jawad Naqvi have called it a US-Arab conspiracy. They allege that the purpose of this agreement is to drag Pakistan into the Iran war and future wars in West Asia.
Which countries can be included?
Egypt, which has Africa’s most powerful military, is being considered the next most likely country to join this alliance. Egypt has more than 4.4 lakh active soldiers, thousands of tanks and a modern air and navy. Apart from this, Qatar and Kuwait are considered to be the strongest candidates among the Gulf countries. Jordan, Azerbaijan and Syria are also likely to join this framework.
More strength will increase
At present, all three countries are contributing to the Mecca Agreement in different ways. While Saudi Arabia can provide the group with economic muscle, strategic geographical location and one of the most developed air forces in West Asia, Turkey has a NATO-trained military. Whereas Pakistan has nuclear weapons. If Egypt also joins it, the military and political strength of the alliance can increase significantly. Egypt’s large military, strategic location between Asia and Africa, presence near the Suez Canal and its important role in Arab diplomacy could strengthen the alliance. If Qatar, Kuwait and other Gulf countries also join it, then the strength of the group will increase further.
