Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have formalised the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The pact sets up a collective defence arrangement that Iran has been offered to join and is now evaluating. The move comes during ongoing Saudi-Houthi strains.
Analysts equate the new alliance to a Muslim Nato or to the old Baghdad Pact. India has dismissed the deal. An Indian official questioned what the agreement has achieved during live military situations in the member countries. The statement suggests New Delhi is sceptical about the actual usefulness of the pact.