Militärische Bündnisse: Pakistan, Türkei, Saudi-Arabien: Was bedeutet der neue Pakt?

Recent developments in the Middle East have seen Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia establish a defense pact for mutual support amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region. At a summit in Saudi Arabia's Makkah, leaders from the three nations signed the so-called "Makkah Defense Pact," according to statements from all three countries.

Any armed attack against one of the three states would be considered an attack on all three allies, the statements said. The agreement represents a commitment to strengthen shared security interests among the three nations. Specific details about the pact's contents or the nature of mutual assistance in case of an attack have not been disclosed.

The pact came into effect only after Saudi Arabia reported casualties following an attack by Yemeni Huthi militia in the kingdom in the previous night. Both groups are allied with Iran. Additionally, the ongoing dispute over naval passage through the Strait of Hormuz between the US and Iran also impacts the global economic situation.

According to Pakistani security sources, the agreement was not intended as a deterrent against Iran. Its significance will be evident only if the US withdraws from the region and Saudi Arabia feels vulnerable due to potential escalations by Israel, the sources noted. Last year, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had signed a bilateral defense pact following an Israeli attack on Hamas targets in Qatar.

Pakistani troops and fighter jets are now based in Saudi Arabia under the new agreement. The pact primarily focuses on technology transfers from Turkey to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, exchange of intelligence, and building Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities. The agreement also aims to channel Saudi money into Turkey's defense industry.

Cooperation between Turkey and Saudi Arabia exists as Turkey is a NATO member and has bilateral security agreements with non-NATO states, including Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia. Turkey also participates in an anti-terror mission initiated by Saudi Arabia and signed an agreement with Qatar, leading to the establishment of a Turkish military base in the Gulf state.

Saudi Arabia has recently been targeted by attacks attributed to Iran and its allies, including US military bases in Saudi territory, and oil facilities. Pakistan, however, did not intervene in these cases. Upon signing the defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan reportedly offered nuclear capabilities to the partner. Saudi Arabia seeks to reduce its security dependence on the US and expand its influence as a regional power.

While Washington remains Riyadh's primary security partner, Saudi Arabia has intensified its search for reliable partners amid the Iran war. Experts say the new agreement should not be misconstrued as an anti-Iran alliance. Pakistan and Turkey maintain relatively good relations with Tehran, whereas Riyadh avoids direct confrontation with Iran despite its rivalry.

Instead, the alliance targets non-state actors like the Huthi militia in Yemen or armed groups in Iraq attacking Saudi Arabia. Pakistan and Turkey have been fighting militant groups within and outside their borders for years, labeling them as terrorists. Saudi Arabia was last attacked by both the Huthi militia in Yemen and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.

The kingdom has been at war with the Huthi in Yemen for over a decade, having overrun the impoverished country in 2014 and plunged it into a civil war, controlling large parts of the north, including the capital Sanaa. The conflict escalated again earlier this year with Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa. The Yemeni civil war has seen an unofficial ceasefire since 2022.