Mecca Agreement's Collective Defense Commitment Faces Credibility Test

The Mecca Agreement's core mutual-defense clause is questioned as members maintain independent partnerships, potentially undermining collective security. The piece highlights a structural weakness: if members expect others to absorb their risks without reciprocating, the 'attack on one is an attack on all' pledge may prove hollow in a crisis. This matters because the agreement's credibility is central to regional deterrence, and its failure could reshape Middle East security alignments.