Mohamed Alhamed, a geopolitical analyst and President of the Saudi Elite Group, said that the Mecca defense pact does not “replace the Kingdom’s internal strength as it has capable security, intelligence, defense and crisis-management institutions. Instead, he said, the alliance “moves the response beyond diplomatic statements, acts as a deterrence framework, helps secure maritime routes and creates a collective response against those that use missiles, drones, sectarian networks, or political chaos as tools of influence.” Describing its relevance under the current crisis, he said that it “creates a platform for joint coordination, intelligence sharing, deterrence, maritime security, and collective readiness against actors who try to destabilize Muslim countries, threaten holy sites, or disrupt vital waterways and international interests in the Middle East.” Pointing out that any direct threat to Saudi Arabia security is not just a national issue, Alhamed said that it affects the stability of the whole region, the Gulf, the Red Sea, energy security, global trade, and the wider Islamic world. And the pact gives Riyadh a “stronger political and security framework to respond with partners when threats cross borders.” Underlining the significance of Mecca, Alhamed said that it is the spiritual heart of the Muslim world, and any attack or attempted threat against it not an attack on Saudi Arabia but “on the sanctity of Islam and on more than a billion Muslims around the world.” Therefore, he said that while “dialogue is always welcome, the security of the Kingdom, the holy sites, and regional stability are red lines.” turkiyetoday.com/region/hout…