Saudi Arabia turns to Muslim military heavyweights in landmark defense pact as Iran war closes in

Saudi Arabia has formed a new defense alliance with Pakistan and Turkey, two of the Muslim world’s most powerful military forces, amid growing concerns over Iran’s regional influence. The three nations signed a NATO-style mutual defense pact in Mecca on Friday, pledging that an attack against any one of them shall be considered an attack on all.

The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and enhance defense cooperation among the three states. Turkey, which has the second-largest military in NATO, and Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim nation, bring a significant layer of protection to Saudi Arabia's security. While the pact doesn't target any specific actor and isn't intended to create a military axis or sectarian bloc, it signals Saudi Arabia's concern over Iran's growing threat in the region.

The agreement also comes as Israel expands its military reach and Saudi Arabia's relations with the United Arab Emirates fray. Both Pakistan and Turkey have strong reasons to prevent conflict from spiraling due to their shared borders with Iran and concerns over regional issues like Shiite population management and Kurdish separatism.

The treaty serves as a warning to Iran, with a senior Iranian official warning that it won't guarantee Saudi Arabia's security.