1 week ago
Jaishankar Says India Closely Watches New Mecca Defence Pact
India is studying a new defence agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The agreement says that an attack on one country would count as an attack on all three.
India’s foreign minister, S Jaishankar, said every action by countries unfriendly to India matters in India’s planning.
He also questioned whether the agreement had changed how its members respond to real military problems.
He suggested that the countries have not always helped one another in every situation.
India is paying special attention because Pakistan and Turkey already have close defence and diplomatic ties.
Jaishankar said India also considers possible cooperation between Turkey and China.
He did not reveal all of India’s private strategic calculations.
S Jaishankar said India includes every relevant development in its strategic calculations.
He questioned what practical difference the Mecca defence pact had made during existing military situations.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the agreement in Mecca earlier this month.
The pact says an armed attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all three.
Jaishankar said India is also watching possible technology cooperation involving Turkey and China.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
- What
- India is assessing a defence pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, including its possible strategic implications.
- Where
- The pact was signed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia; Jaishankar spoke at an event hosted by The Economic Times.
- When
- Jaishankar commented on it on Saturday; the pact was signed earlier this month.
- Why
- The agreement was created as a framework for closer military cooperation and says an attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all three.
India’s Strategic Assessment
Pact’s Stated Purpose
Practical impact
India’s Strategic Assessment
Jaishankar questioned what the agreement had done in response to live military situations and suggested its members had not always come to one another’s aid.
Pact’s Stated Purpose
The pact establishes a framework for closer military cooperation and formally treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all three.
Strategic significance
India’s Strategic Assessment
India regards the pact and interactions among countries not favourably disposed toward it as factors in its strategic calculations, while withholding the details.
Pact’s Stated Purpose
The agreement’s stated framework links Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, though the articles do not describe specific joint actions resulting from it.
Key facts
- Pact participants
- Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey
- Location of signing
- Mecca
- Stated security commitment
- An armed attack against one signatory would be treated as an attack against all three.
- India’s position
- India includes relevant developments in its strategic calculations.
- Jaishankar’s assessment
- He questioned what practical difference the pact had made in existing military situations.
- Additional concern
- India is considering possible technology cooperation involving Turkey and China.
Quotes
S. Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister
““You refer to it as a defence pact. There are live military situations which each of the signatories face. What has the MECCA pact done in response to that?””
firstpost.com
““Would I then proceed to bare my soul to you and everybody else? Of course I will not.””
firstpost.com
Sources
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