The Mecca Defence Pact and the Emerging West Asian Security Order: Implications for Iran, Israel and India

The Mecca Defence Pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan marks an important development in the changing security order of West Asia. Signed in 2026, the pact creates a framework for mutual defence, military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and defence production. This study examines the strategic factors behind the pact and assesses its possible effects on Iran, Israel, and India. It argues that the pact reflects the growing search for regional security arrangements and greater strategic autonomy among regional powers. For Iran, the pact may increase strategic pressure by bringing together Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan within a common defence framework. However, it does not necessarily indicate the formation of an anti-Iran military alliance. For Israel, the pact creates a new security environment because its members have different but often critical positions toward Israeli regional policies. For India, the agreement creates both challenges and opportunities. Pakistan's stronger links with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye may create new security concerns, while India's strong relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel provide space for strategic balancing. The study uses a qualitative research method based on official documents, academic literature, policy reports, and recent secondary sources. Regional security complex theory, balance-of-power theory, and strategic autonomy provide the analytical framework. The study concludes that the future importance of the pact will depend on military cooperation, institutional development, shared threat perceptions, and possible membership expansion.

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