Houthis are putting Mecca pact to the test, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) is a trilateral pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan for collective deterrence.
• It states that an armed attack against any member would be considered an attack against all, grounded in UN Charter Article 51.
• The pact is currently being tested by ongoing Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Arabia has sought security assistance from Europe due to a lack of military support from Turkey and Pakistan.

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Detailed Insights:

• The MJDA was signed on August 7, drawing comparisons to an "Islamic NATO" due to its collective self-defence principles.
• Unlike NATO, the MJDA currently lacks an institutional structure, established command arrangements, and bureaucracy.
• Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
• The Yemen conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with all parties accused of potential war crimes, including the Saudi-led coalition.
• The MJDA lacks official ratification and its mutual defence terms are not yet legally binding for member states.
• Saudi Arabia has sought security assistance from Europe after a cold response from the United States.
• Turkey and Pakistan have distinct strategic interests, with Pakistan focused on India and Afghanistan, and Turkey on Syria, Iraq, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• The European Union is unlikely to provide direct military intervention to Saudi Arabia due to reported violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA): A trilateral pact for collective deterrence and self-defence between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.
• UN Charter Article 51: Recognizes the inherent right of states to individual and collective self-defence against armed attack.
• Collective Self-Defence: A principle where an armed attack against one state is considered an attack against all members of an alliance.
• International Humanitarian Law (IHL): A set of rules seeking to limit the effects of armed conflict, protecting persons not participating in hostilities.