Saudi Arabia's new agreement with Turkey, Pakistan puts stability on dangerous hedge - editorial
Riyadh must decide whether its new alliances will strengthen regional stability or give greater influence to governments seeking to turn Israel into the common enemy.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan forged a new defense pact in Mecca, potentially reshaping Middle Eastern power dynamics. The agreement stipulates that an attack on one nation equates to an attack on all three. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan likened the pact to NATO's Article 5, promising a joint ministerial committee and secretariat in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, called for a united military front against Israel, citing the Palestinian conflict as a threat to the Muslim world. Former US national security advisor Jacob Nagel suggested the pact is a strategy to pressure the US administration, as Saudi Arabia seeks alternatives amid growing concerns about Iran's regional influence.
While Israel should not dismiss the Saudi defense partnership, the US should evaluate the implications of declining confidence in American guarantees and consider how to prevent this alliance from fostering an anti-Israel stance.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
