Pakistan media: Mecca Pact could have repercussions in South Caucasus

The impact of a new defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, often referred to as the Mecca Pact, could extend beyond the Middle East and South Asia to the South Caucasus, Pakistani media has reported.

An article by Muhammad Akram Zaheer, published in the Daily Islamabad Post, examines the potential regional consequences of the emerging security arrangement, identifying the South Caucasus as one of the areas where its effects could become apparent.

According to the author, Türkiye’s close ties with Azerbaijan, combined with Pakistan’s growing relations with both Ankara and Baku, are increasing India’s interest in Armenia.

New Delhi has developed defence ties with Yerevan, while Armenia has sought to maintain a balance in its relations with neighbouring countries and a broader range of international partners, the article says.

“For New Delhi, Armenia offers a means of maintaining a presence in a region where Turkey and Azerbaijan have considerable influence. For Pakistan, the changing relationship between Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Armenia carries implications for its own strategic position,” Zahir writes.

The author nevertheless cautions that the South Caucasus should not become another theatre of military confrontation in which rival powers pursue their strategic competition through smaller states.