Saudi Arabia bets on defensive alliances to deter slide into war
Increasingly dragged into a war it did not choose, Saudi Arabia is building regional defensive alliances that it hopes will keep its enemies at bay and help it respond more robustly to attacks by Iran and its network of regional allies.
Saudi Arabia seeks to deter aggression and safeguard its economic objectives through strategic alliances, despite limited success thus far. The kingdom faces attacks from Iran, Iraq, Yemen's Houthis and their regional allies, prompting efforts to form a defensive coalition in the Red Sea and strengthen ties with Turkey and Pakistan.
However, these initiatives have yet to prevent attacks and analysts warn of potential entanglement in a broader regional conflict. Saudi Arabia's dilemma lies in balancing deterrence with restraint, as its enemies perceive its desire for peace as acceptance of being targeted.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
