How a pragmatic axis could reshape the Middle East

A new geopolitical formation, dubbed the "Sunni axis," may be reshaping the Middle East, according to recent developments. The Mecca agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, could prove to be more influential than the entrenched alliances of Iran, Israel, and the United States. This informal understanding, marked by the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, envisions a NATO-style collective security guarantee.

The three nations are exploring a mutually beneficial arrangement where Islamabad's nuclear and missile capabilities are under Riyadh's informal umbrella. Turkey, with its robust defense industrial base, is also leaning towards joining this framework. Egypt and Qatar, with their strategic positions and financial resources, serve as external allies to this evolving coalition.

While the Saudi-Pakistani pact signifies a significant shift, the underlying unity among these nations is pragmatic and based on a shared belief that neither an Iranian proxy war nor an Israeli-led, force-driven order offers viable long-term stability.