The Mecca Pact must meet the test of war

The Mecca Pact is already facing the test that matters: whether its promise of collective defence can shape the response to an actual war. With fighting escalating in Yemen and Saudi Arabia under attack, regional leaders no longer have the luxury of discussing security institutions as a future project. They must show what those institutions can do now. America does not have to leave the Middle East for the region to face a serious security gap. It only has to become more selective. The 2026 National Defense Strategy, published on January 23, assigns regional partners primary responsibility for deterrence and defence. A January 28 US government explanation specifies continued support for Israel and Gulf cooperation. The distinction is between continued […]