Saudi Arabia and the Mecca Pact

Now, just about a month ago, Turkey has signed a deal with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the Mecca Agreement, which has a NATO-style Article 5, when one country is attacked, all are attacked.

According to the Turkish foreign minister, conversations about this pact had been ongoing for the better part of two years.

So before we get into the details, can I ask you, Asli, if you were at all surprised when it was announced?

Well, Bill, as you say, that was quite an important announcement.

I think something that will have consequences down the road.

I was surprised by the timing and the strength of the language, but not by the announcement itself.

It is true that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been talking about this for some time.

They've been moving closer.

And all three are obviously American partners, and they have been actually in the region thriving under American protection.

But they also see that the post-American Middle East is around the corner.

we're not there now.

And America is still an indispensable security partner for all three of these countries.

But it's coming.

The Iran war clearly showed us that we're entering a post-American space with no clear win or victory by the United States.

The mighty US military is sort of reached a stalemate with Iran.

So I think these countries are searching for regional solutions.

This is not a Muslim NATO or a Sunni NATO, as some articles have claimed.

And I think the Article 5 style commitment that you referred to is a little bit premature to say that's there.

But it is aspirational.

Intentionally, they are saying we want to work together cooperate, collaborate on intelligence, logistics, and certainly strategy.

And they're not there as NATO in terms of an integrated command structure, but I think they will be trying to help each other out.

Now, that doesn't mean Turkey will go to war with Iran.

in order to protect Saudi Arabia or Saudi Arabia will go to war with India if somehow there's a flare up in Pakistan-India tensions.

But it does mean they will chip in more.

And I think as such, it's very important.