The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday rejected as “fake news” a report claiming that India had approached Israel for a defence pact following the signing of a new collective security agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The claim, which circulated on social media after being published by Turkish media outlet Straturka, cited unnamed Pakistani sources and alleged that New Delhi had sought a defence arrangement with Israel to counter the newly formed trilateral security grouping.
MEA flags ‘fake news’
The MEA's Fact Check unit shared a screenshot of the report and labelled the claim “fake news”, rejecting suggestions that India had made such a request to Israel.
The report had claimed that the alleged Indian move came in response to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed earlier on Friday by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.
The MEA's intervention came as the claim began gaining traction online following the announcement of the trilateral pact.
What report had claimed
According to the disputed report, India had supposedly approached Israel for a defence agreement as a strategic counterweight to the emerging Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye security arrangement.
The claim was attributed to unnamed Pakistani sources and subsequently amplified on social media.
The Indian government, however, categorically rejected the assertion rather than allowing speculation surrounding New Delhi's response to the new regional arrangement to gather momentum.
Trilateral pact signed in Mecca
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on Friday, bringing together three major regional military powers under a collective security framework.
The agreement was signed in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Under one of its most significant provisions, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all three.
The signatories have described the agreement as defensive and maintained that it is not directed against any particular country.
India closely watching developments
India has separately said it is closely following developments surrounding the new defence arrangement.
The pact carries particular significance for New Delhi because Pakistan is one of its members, while India maintains important strategic and economic relations with Saudi Arabia.
Türkiye's close strategic relationship with Pakistan has also been a subject of attention in New Delhi.
The MEA's rejection of the Israel-related report makes a distinction between India's assessment of the new security arrangement and claims that New Delhi is seeking a rival collective-defence pact.
Pact reshapes regional equations
The Mecca agreement brings together countries with markedly different strategic strengths. Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state with one of the region's largest militaries, while Türkiye is a NATO member with a substantial conventional military and rapidly expanding defence industry.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, combines considerable financial resources with strategic influence in West Asia and the wider Islamic world.
The pact has emerged amid heightened instability in West Asia and concerns among regional powers over their security arrangements.
Misinformation draws attention
The episode also highlights the speed with which unverified geopolitical claims can circulate following major diplomatic and military developments.
The MEA's rapid response sought to establish the government's position amid speculation over how India might react to a security grouping that includes Pakistan.
For now, New Delhi has publicly limited its response to saying it is closely monitoring the trilateral defence arrangement while rejecting the claim that it has sought a corresponding defence pact with Israel.