On 7 August 2026, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye jointly entered into a defence alliance, known as the ‘Mecca Joint Defence Agreement‘. Under this pact, an attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three, and accordingly, the three countries would provide each other with the necessary defence support. In the parlance of international relations, this arrangement constitutes a formal alliance, where an attack on any one member is effectively an attack on all. During the Cold War, from 1945 to 1991, several military and defence alliances emerged on the global stage. Examples include the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Warsaw Pact, the Australia-New Zealand security arrangement, the United States-South Korea alliance, and the US-Japan alliance, among others.
Pakistan is a neighbouring country to India, and both have had a tense bilateral relationship since their inception, due to political issues and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the Jammu and Kashmir region. Therefore, a country that has been nurturing terrorism and unleashing it into the territory of India has entered into an alliance framework. Hence, this new trilateral agreement is also likely to have implications for India.
In this context, there are two major possible implications for India:
First, Pakistan may become more confident knowing that two countries are available to provide assistance or defence cooperation in times of crisis. Particularly in the event of an India–Pakistan conflict, India may need to consider the possibility of diplomatic or other forms of support that Pakistan could receive from Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Over the last decade, India and Pakistan have repeatedly skirted the brink of large-scale conflict. From the 2016 surgical strikes, a direct response to attacks in Poonch and Uri, to the 2019 Balakot airstrikes following the Pulwama tragedy, and the 2025 operations after the Pahalgam killings, India has consistently responded to cross-border provocations with targeted, punitive strikes. The key point here is that India has kept retaliating against the terrorist attacks in the form of small-scale military operations in Pakistan’s territory, destroying terror infrastructure. India is likely to continue similar strikes if Pakistan does not stop sending terrorists across the border and harbouring terrorism in the country. India has also announced that the ‘Operation Sindoor‘ that was launched in May 2025 is continuing, in some form or another. On the other hand, Pakistan has been seeing these strikes as a gross violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Hence, the second implication India likely faces is that if it were to undertake any military action within Pakistani territory in the future, it would have to consider not only Pakistan’s response but also its relations with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, as they are now in formal military alliances. This is particularly important in the case of Saudi Arabia, with which India has developed cordial and increasingly strategically significant bilateral relations over the past few years. Therefore, India must carefully calibrate its security responses to ensure that military necessity does not create untenable friction with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
On the other hand, India’s relations with Türkiye have not been that cordial because of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s close ties and support for Pakistan, along with Türkiye’s overall support for Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Additionally, Türkiye’s support for Pakistan with drone delivery during the Operation Sindoor against India has strained bilateral ties. Despite that, attempts have been made at the Track 2 dialogue level to mend India-Türkiye bilateral ties. Still, the ultimate result will depend upon how the two sides accommodate each other’s strategic interests.
However, there is another important aspect that needs to be taken into consideration in this entire situation, which is that India’s position has consistently been ‘anti-terrorism and counter terrorism‘. India has been taking an active stance on counter terrorism, right from raising public awareness, counter terrorism challenges at international forums, in bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral diplomatic engagements, to taking hard punitive actions on the ground, including military strikes on terror infrastructure. Hence, India’s primary focus has been on destroying the terror infrastructure and system. Even if India has carried out strikes in the territory of Pakistan, India has categorically taken a position that this action is not against the state or civilian population of Pakistan, but against the terrorists and terror infrastructure.
A normative, balanced and pragmatic position on counter terrorism could become particularly important for India in the coming period, especially while engaging diplomatically with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, during the India-Pakistan conflict over counter-terrorism.
In particular, India would need to effectively communicate that any potential military action it would take against Pakistan is neither directed against Pakistan’s civilian population nor against Pakistan’s sovereign existence, but specifically against terrorist infrastructure. India has consistently shared intelligence regarding terror infrastructure with the Pakistani government. To strengthen its position, India should proactively share this same intelligence with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, as well as the broader international community, to show that its military actions respond to specific, actionable threats. This will help India justify its position internationally, especially to Pakistan’s allies.
Nevertheless, against the backdrop of this new defence alliance, what position Saudi Arabia and Türkiye will ultimately adopt, and in what ways they will cooperate with India on issues concerning Indian interests, will become clear only with time.
Nihar Kulkarni is a PhD scholar of international relations at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland. His PhD thesis examines “the evolution of India’s strategic partnership with Japan in the Indo-Pacific region since 2007." His research areas include India’s foreign policy and national security, geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region, great power politics, strategic partnerships, and alliance frameworks. His work primarily examines evolving strategic and geopolitical dynamics in Asia and the broader international system.
Więcej informacji na temat: newslettera, polityki prywatności serwisu
czytaj więcej
Interview with Arthur Tun on Myanmar’s Coup d’État
On the 1st of February 2021, Myanmar’s military forces overthrew the government and arrested the Prime Minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. On the fifth anniversary of these events, the Boym Institute decided to ask what Myanmar looks like after the coup.
Paweł MazurekAsia-Integration – Follow-up Report on Polish Policy Challenges Towards Asian Countries
The debate was the consequence of positive reactions to the open letter that the Boym Institute published in the summer of 2020. Many of its readers pointed out the necessity of broad consultations regarding the principles of the new multidimensional policy in order to reflect the diversity of perspectives, interests and conditions.
A letter from the Adam Institute in Jerusalem
This letter is part of our series on the Voices from Asia. We share our platform with Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman who serves as the Executive Director at the Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace in Jerusalem, Israel.
Uki Maroshek-KlarmanTemples, Hackers, and Leaks: The Thai-Cambodian Crisis in the Age of Information Warfare
Thailand and Cambodia are caught up in a heated border dispute over an ancient temple that dates back to the 11th century. This isn’t just about land — it’s about the heritage of colonialism, national pride, and tensions between two powerful political dynasties.
Andżelika SerwatkaThe North Korean nuclear dismantlement and the management of its nuclear wastes
Evidence suggests that North Korea stores its high-level nuclear waste (HLW) in liquid form in tanks on the same site where it is made, and has not invested in infrastructure to reduce, dentrify, or vitrify this waste. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, one of many aspects of the North Korean nuclear waste problem.
Nicolas LeviIndia, China and the Shades of Grey
"We are at an inflection point in this century. Many of our traditional arrangements are failing. To achieve stability in this century we need to discover new solutions" - Interview with Samir Saran - Senior Fellow and Vice President at the Observer Research Foundation
Krzysztof ZalewskiForeign Direct Investment in Vietnam
Thanks to continuous economic development, Vietnam attracts a record number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The catalyst for such a strong growth of FDI in Vietnam is not only the ongoing trade war between the US and China, but also new international agreements.
Jakub KrólczykCoronavirus and climate policies: long-term consequences of short-term initiatives
As large parts of the world are gradually becoming habituated to living in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, global attention has turned to restarting the economy. One of the most consequential impacts of these efforts will be that on our climate policies and environmental conditions.
Dawid JuraszekKyrgyzstan on the Path to Political Stabilisation
On 10 January, early presidential elections were held in Kyrgyzstan, following the resignation of the incumbent, President Zheenbekov. The atmosphere in which the vote was conducted remained tense. This had been the case since the results of the October elections were announced, in which the opposition grouping failed to win a single parliamentary seat.
Jerzy OlędzkiAn interview with Mr. Meirzhan Yussupov, Chairman of the Board of the “National Company” KAZAKH INVEST” JSC - Member of the Board of Directors of the Company
Magdalena Sobańska-CwalinaFrom quantity to quality. Demographic transition in China – interview with Prof. Lauren Johnston
What we observe in China is a population reduction strategy paired with the socio-economic transition. In my view it’s not a crisis, but it is a very challenging transition.
Lauren JohnstonOnline Course: “Conflict Resolution and Democracy”
The course will be taught via interactive workshops, employing the Adam Institute’s signature “Betzavta – the Adam Institute’s Facilitation Method“, taught by its creator, Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman. The award-winning “Betzavta” method is rooted in an empirical approach to civic education, interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.
Time for a new normal – enhancing Europe’s military profile in the Indo-Pacific in 2025
2024 witnessed a notable stepping up of Europe’s military profile in the Indo-Pacific. Building on these developments, 2025 should be a year of continuation, bringing even more defence engagement of European states with their Indo-Pacific partners.
Jakub WitczakDr. Nicolas Levi with a lecture in Seoul
On May 24 Dr. Nicolas Levi gave a lecture on Balcerowicz's plan in the context of North Korea. The speech took place as part of the seminar "Analyzing the Possibility of Reform and its Impact on Human Rights in North Korea". The seminar took place on May 24 at the prestigious Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
Risk and oppportunities for self-driving vehicles. Exploring global regulations and security challenges in the future of connected vehicles. The report was co-produced by Boym Institute and 9DASHLINE.
Book review of "GDR International Development Policy Involvement. Doctrine and Strategies between Illusions and Reality 1960-1990, The example (South) Africa", written by Ulrich van der Heyden and published by Lit Verlag in 2013.
Nicolas LeviThe number of confirmed executions and frequent disappearances of politicians remind us that in North Korea the rules of social Darwinism apply. Any attempt to limit Kim Jong-un's power may be considered hostile and ruthless.
Roman HusarskiWe would like to inform, that Observer Research Foundation has published article of Krzysztof Zalewski - the Boym Institute Analyst, Chairman of the Board and Editor of the “Tydzień w Azji” weekly.
Krzysztof ZalewskiGlobal Gateway 101: A Short Guide to the EU’s Development Initiatives and their Challenges in Asia
The 2010s and 2020s have been marked by intense geopolitical competition, not only in traditional military and economic terms but also in the realm of global development initiatives.
Konrad SzattersTaiwanese Perceptions of Russia’s Ukraine war
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Taiwanese government remained committed to its position of condemnation for Russia, humanitarian support for Ukraine, and deep appreciation and admiration for the Ukrainian people’s will to defy power, resist aggression, and defend their nation.
Kuan Ting ChenPaths to Asia: Conversations that Inspire
Wojciech Jaworski is the founder of Huqiao Games, a company specializing in bringing PC games to the Chinese market. A graduate of Jagiellonian University and participant in the “Chinese Bridge” program, he is currently working on a new, as yet unannounced project in the gamedev/tech industry.
Patrycja Pendrakowska“May you be the mother of a thousand sons” – the status of women in Indian society
The 1950 Indian Constitution introduced the principle of equal opportunities for gender equality, which grants women and men the same rights in family life, political, social and economic life. So why is it that nearly forty per cent of girls aged 15-17 do not attend school, the custom of dowry giving is still cultivated and prenatal sex selection is still a huge social problem?
Magdalena RybczyńskaBook review: “Unveiling the North Korean economy”
Book review of "Unveiling the North Korean economy", written by Kim Byung-yeon and published by Cambridge University Press in 2016.B. Tauris in 2017.
Nicolas LeviAre “Climate Refugees” (Just) About Climate?
As the awareness of the scale and pervasiveness of climate impacts on human societies keeps rising, so does the frequency with which the terms “climate refugees” and “climate migrants” are being used in the public discourse “to describe those who are being displaced due to adverse consequences related to climate change” (Atapattu, 2020).
Dawid Juraszek