India-Israel ties will bloom amid Middle East's new Mecca Pact – analysis

On Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the "current situation in West Asia" and their "Special Strategic Partnership." This conversation, initially appearing routine, gained full context the following day when Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the "Mecca Pact," a mutual defense treaty including a NATO-style Article 5 clause. This new alliance, driven by a perceived weakening of US security commitments, complicates Israel's regional strategy by aligning Saudi Arabia with two countries hostile to Jerusalem. For India, the pact raises alarms due to its strengthening of rival Pakistan and Turkey's increased regional influence, impacting both military and economic interests, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

"When a superpower flails about, regional powers begin to make arrangements for themselves."

The Mecca Pact also makes Saudi-Israel normalization more challenging. In response, Israel and India are expected to deepen their strategic partnership, potentially strengthening existing alliances with countries like Greece and Cyprus, as both nations seek to counter the implications of this new regional alignment.