India will take all necessary measures to safeguard national interests: MEA on Mecca Defence Pact
New Delhi, Aug 11
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday stated that it is examining the implications of the recently signed Mecca Defence Pact between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Answering queries by reporters on the recently-signed pact, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted during a biweekly briefing that India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests.
"Regarding the agreement that was signed recently, let me say that we continue to closely follow developments in the West Asia conflict. As far as this particular agreement is concerned, we are examining its implications, both from the perspective of our national security as well as considerations of regional stability, peace and stability. India remains fully committed to meeting or safeguarding its national interests and will take all necessary measures in this regard," the spokesperson stated.
Analysts reckon that the defence agreement risks remaining largely rhetorical unless it clearly defines what constitutes aggression, identifies the circumstances that would trigger a military response, and outlines how the three countries would coordinate their forces.
It appears to be a "backup plan", with the three middle powers preparing for a scenario in which they can no longer rely fully on the security guarantees of the major powers. Moreover, the agreement is framed in vague terms, with no clear obligation for any of the three countries to go to war if another member is attacked, a report in 'Modern Diplomacy' highlighted this week.
Meanwhile, Sergio Restelli, an Italian political advisor, author and geopolitical expert, wrote in 'The Times of Israel' that Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif gave the emerging alliance something its carefully-worded official text had conspicuously avoided: a clearly identified enemy - Israel and India.
"Asif called for Muslim countries to unite against Israel and advocated a united military front, arguing that the threat posed by the Jewish state extended beyond Palestine to the Muslim world as a whole. Pakistan has never recognised Israel and Pakistani politicians have frequently adopted strongly anti-Israel and strongly anti-semitic positions. What makes Asif's latest intervention different is that it comes immediately after Islamabad entered a potentially historic collective defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey," Restelli detailed.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, this pact is just rhetoric. Turkey and Saudi Arabia have their own interests, and Pakistan is just using this for its usual anti-India propaganda. India should stay vigilant but not overreact.
The MEA's response is measured and appropriate. We need to watch how this pact evolves, but our defence forces are more than capable of handling any threats. Pakistan's Defence Minister talking about a "united military front" is just chest-thumping.
From an international perspective, this pact seems vague and unlikely to change the regional dynamics. India's diplomacy has always been proactive, and I'm sure our foreign policy team will handle this situation with the usual caution and strategy.
All hat, no cattle. This pact signed by Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia is more about optics than actual military cooperation. And the fact that they mentioned Israel and India as "enemies" shows their insecurity. We just need to keep building our own strategic partnerships.
I think it's wise for India to monitor this agreement carefully. While it lacks clear obligations, the region is volatile, and we can't afford to be complacent. The MEA's cautious approach shows maturity in handling such matters.
R Rahul R Pakistan We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.