Makkah consensus

The tripartite defence agreement signed in Makkah between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is epoch-making in essence. It is premised on the understanding that an armed attack on any one state will be treated as aggression against all members and shall trigger a collective response. The intention, nonetheless, is one of deterrence - to ward off extra-territorial designs by any sovereign state or non-state entity. With the region in a state of flux due to the US-Iran war, this trilateral defence pact is likely to usher in new signs of stability and drive broader reconciliation efforts among the warring sides.

The raw potential of the accord can be noted from the fact that it brings together an oil-rich state, a pivotal Eurasian power and the Muslim world's largest standing army equipped with the power of deterrence. The crux is to erect a new security paradigm for perpetual peace in the region - one that is inclusive and forward-looking. To this end, it provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three countries and remains evolving in nature, even in times of peace.

While the current security equation presents a power paradox, one expects this understanding will lead to the assertion of influence and its retention for the collective good. When viewed alongside the bilateral defence pact between Riyadh and Islamabad, this development reinforces a shared commitment to peace, especially as Türkiye, Egypt, Oman and Iran remain central to the enriching bilateral and multilateral deals necessary for assuring regional serenity and cooperation.

Also, the Makkah consensus has come against the backdrop of a 14-nation multinational maritime defence coalition meant to safeguard commercial shipping, secure energy routes and maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Furthermore, the breakthrough that Muscat and Tehran have achieved regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz creates a win-win scenario for regional tranquility. The need of the hour is to evaluate each accord in its proper perspective rather than viewing them as being in conflict with one another.