Pakistan States Makkah Defence Pact Will Not Expand for Now
4 sources across 4 countries · Bangladesh · France · Pakistan · United Kingdom
Who reported this
- The Daily Star
- Le Monde
- Dawn
- Reuters
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Pakistan's Foreign Office announced on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, is defensive in nature and that expansion of the pact is currently not on the cards. Sajjad Haider Khan, the Foreign Office spokesperson, stated that the three member states must first consolidate their organization and cooperation before the agreement becomes open to countries with similar perspectives. The pact, signed on August 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence by treating an attack against one member as an attack against all members. Following an inaugural meeting on August 31 in Istanbul, the members decided to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia, which will be led by a secretary general from Pakistan for an initial three year period.
While center leaning sources focused on the official statements regarding the pact's defensive purpose and administrative structure, center left sources provided broader geopolitical context. One center left report described the alliance as an experiment in regional autonomy responding to a more abrasive regional environment and the gradual withdrawal of the United States from the Middle East. This report also noted Egypt's absence from the pact as an anomaly given its population and geographic position. Additionally, Reuters reported that Pakistan stated no military response has been discussed under the pact regarding Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Framed the pact as a strategic response to U.S. withdrawal and regional instability while highlighting the absence of Egypt.
- Centre
- Focused on the official diplomatic statements and the administrative details of the alliance.
Sources
- Centre-left Dawn: FO says Makkah defence pact 'defensive' in nature, expansion currently 'not on the cards'
- Centre-left Le Monde: Why Egypt abstained from joining the "Mecca pact" between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey
- Centre Reuters: Pakistan says no military response discussed under Mecca pact over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia - Reuters
- Centre The Daily Star: Makkah defence pact will not expand for now, Pakistan says
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