Opinion: How a pragmatic axis could reshape the Middle East

Nearly three years have passed since the Hamas attack on October 7th, which shattered the belief in a manageable status quo in the Middle East. This status quo, which favored US and Israeli interests while disregarding Palestinian rights, no longer applies. The region's fault line, once between Iran's "Resistance Axis" and the Israeli-inspired "Pax Americana," now shows signs of a new development.

The traditional two axes have lost their relevance in the current geopolitical landscape. Iran's "Resistance Axis" comprises Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi armed groups, and Syria under the Assad regime. However, the Israeli-inspired "Pax Americana" - a framework of deterrence, normalization, and military primacy imposed by Washington and Tel Aviv - is also no longer the sole dominant power structure.

A new possibility has emerged: the possibility of an institutionalized "Sunni Axis" anchored in Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad. The core of this potential axis includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, with Qatar, Cairo, and Abu Dhabi playing peripheral roles. This new axis could significantly reshape the Middle East's dynamics, presenting a third pole alongside the old ones.