What are the challenges facing the Mecca agreement?

play Live Sign upShow navigation menuNavigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedSportOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftUS-Israel war on IranStrait of HormuzWhat is Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain?Why have strikes resumed?Bodies of Evidencecaret-rightplay videoplay videoVideo Duration play-arrowInside StoryWhat are the challenges facing the Mecca agreement?Saudi Arabia turns to Turkiye and Pakistan for defence ties, raising questions overreliance on the US. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a joint defence pact. It is an alliance that analysts say highlights Riyadh’s desire to diversify its defence partnerships, expanding to Ankara and Islamabad. The pact was announced at a time of increased regional tension. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has launched a military operation against the Iran-aligned Houthis following a series of attacks, while Iran and the US have yet to reach a final deal to end the war. The trilateral Mecca pact raises questions about the effectiveness of the decades-long US military presence in the Gulf. Does this alliance offer a viable alternative to the security umbrella promised by Washington? Abdulaziz Alghashian – Senior non-resident fellow at the Gulf International Forum David Des Roches – Professor at the Thayer Marshall Institute Zaid M Belbagi – Managing partner at Hardcastle Advisory xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoMore from the same showCan diplomacy end the conflict in Libya?Video Duration 27 minutes 58 seconds play-arrow27:58How fragile is Lebanon’s uneasy peace?Video Duration 27 minutes 59 seconds play-arrow27:59Is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine deepening?Video Duration 27 minutes 30 seconds play-arrow27:30How much of a challenge are wildfires to Europe?Video Duration 27 minutes 30 seconds play-arrow27:30Will Israel withdraw from Gaza if Hamas disarms?Video Duration 28 minutes 30 seconds play-arrow28:30Is Washington dictating the agenda for talks in Venezuela?Video Duration 28 minutes 00 seconds play-arrow28:00Is criticism of Spain on border management legitimate or politics?Video Duration 27 minutes 10 seconds play-arrow27:10AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: