Makkah defense pact signals shift in regional security: analyst

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Darmansjah Djumala, an adviser to Indonesia’s Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP), said the Makkah Defense Pact among Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan reflects growing regional responsibility for security.

“The Makkah Pact should not be viewed as a declaration of war against Iran or a solid military alliance, but as growing regional ownership of security,” Darmansjah said Sunday.

He said the defense pact also indicated the three countries were becoming less dependent on the US security umbrella in the Middle East.

“This shows the Middle East security architecture is beginning to shift from dependence on the US toward building regional defense capabilities,” he said.

Darmansjah said Saudi Arabia signed the pact partly because of lessons from security developments in recent years, including the war between the United States and Iran.

Turkiye, meanwhile, signed the agreement to expand its regional influence, gain access to defense markets and play a larger role in shaping the Middle East security order. Pakistan joined because of its strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, he added.

The ongoing US-Iran conflict showed that US military superiority did not automatically eliminate the three countries’ vulnerability to security threats.

Recent Iranian attacks, which have reportedly depleted Gulf states’ air defense supplies, also highlighted capability gaps that need to be addressed, Darmansjah said. Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan signed the joint defense agreement on Friday (August 7).

The Makkah Defense Pact was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a summit at Al-Safa Palace in Saudi Arabia.

Makkah defense pact signals shift in regional security: analyst

Must Read

RI develops pyrolysis tech to back waste-to-energy plants

ASEAN Secretary General Kao stresses regional solidarity