Sign up with Google
Sign in with Zoho
As dust settles on the Mecca agreement the reality of its implications must have started to sink in for security planners in India. The mutual defence pact signed between Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye, which considers attack on one as an attack on all has the potential to change the strategic landscape of the Indian subcontinent as it connects the Gulf with South Asia. Being a mutual defence pact, it creates certain rights and obligations on its signatories. While there benefits for each of the signing countries the divergent interests and threats faced by Islamabad,Ankara and Riyadh can create some fissures going forward.
New Delhi’s official response to the pact has been rather muted. And rightfully so. There is no need for a knee jerk reaction from India to this new development that most certainly has security implications for it. New Delhi need not pass grandiose hostile statements. It needs to analyse the impact the pact will have on Indian foreign and security policy carefully and respond accordingly.
The biggest trap New Delhi must avoid is to respond to the situation in a symmetric way. That is to counter the pact with a mutual defence pact of its own. Instead asymmetric diplomacy will hold the key to India’s response. What it means in practice is to deal with the pact in a piece meal manner by handling each signatory separately.
Now among three signatories, Pakistan and the advantages that it might receive under the agreement are primary concern for New Delhi given the fact that Islamabad is an India’s biggest threat. These advantages will be bestowed upon Pakistan by the other two signatories albeit in different sectors. And therefore India’s response to Riyadh and Ankara must also be disparate.
While the pact gives Pakistan greater access to Saudi financial and energy resources it does not does not automatically imply Saudi boots on the ground in event of India - Pakistan conflict. Moreover Saudi financing in itself may not be as much of a direct threat for India ‘s security as much what the third party to agreement can offer Islamabad. Yes. Türkiye.
Ankara joining the pact has grave security implications for India. After all Saudi Arabia already had a mutual defence pact with Pakistan before Türkiye chipped in.The addition of Ankara is a larger challenge for New Delhi as Türkiye possess something that Riyadh doesn’t. A sophisticated indigenous defence industry encompassing armed UAV’s to armoured vehicles and tanks to fighter jets. Diplomatically Türkiye has always favoured Islamabad over India and this is evident from its pro Pakistani position on the issue of Kashmir.
It is but obvious that Pakistan would be looking for greater access to weapons technology and electronic warfare systems alongside other defence equipment that Türkiye has to offer. New Delhi must closely monitor the extent of defence cooperation between Ankara and Islamabad as this has direct bearing on India’s national security. And respond to Türkiye accordingly. This is where the Mediterranean nations of Greece and Cyprus come in.
A rival of one’s rival is a friend. India will do well to remember this dictum. Both Athens and Nicosia have their own disputes with Türkiye and it is no wonder that the Turkish media expressed grave concerns at growing bonhomie between India and these vital Mediterranean nations. While Greece has maritime dispute with Türkiye, Cyprus accuses Ankara of illegal occupation of its northern territory. And India must take advantage of these differences.
New Delhi must ensure that it deters Türkiye from sale of advanced defence and electronic warfare systems to Pakistan by threatening or even providing arms sales of its own to Greece and more importantly Cyprus. For India, like Türkiye, too has a strong and robust indigenous defence industry.
What this means in practice is that if Türkiye plan on selling Bayraktar drones to Pakistan or include Islamabad in the development of its Kaan stealth fighter jet program ,India should think in terms of selling its advanced missiles like Brahmos to Greece and Cyprus. There is increasing demand across the globe for Indian missiles and defence systems particularly the air defence systems like Akash and rockets like Pinaka after their stellar performance in the India-Pakistan conflict that erupted in May 2025. India must leverage this advantage to deter a closer Türkiye-Pakistan defence cooperation following Ankara’s inclusion in the Mutual defence Pact.
Another advantage that India possesses is that of economy of scale. Access to the lucrative Indian domestic market is sought by the entire world and that includes Greece and Cyprus. New Delhi must consider entering into preferential trade agreements with these countries enabling their companies better access to Indian market over Turkish firms. This in itself will send a strong message to Ankara of India’s displeasure in event Türkiye-Pakistan cooperation gets too close for comfort for New Delhi.
India must not make the mistake of viewing both Türkiye and Riyadh through Islamabad’s eyes. Its response must be nuanced and different for each signatory.
