Saudi Expert: Israel Misreads Middle East Security Architecture

A Saudi foreign policy expert argues that Israel's tendency to view regional cooperation through the lens of a "common enemy" blinds it to the evolving security landscape in the Middle East. Dr. Aziz Al-Ghashian, a senior researcher, suggests that Israel's focus on whether new alliances, like the recent defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, are directed against it, misses the broader regional dynamics. This approach, he contends, mirrors how Israel interpreted the Abraham Accords, seeing the Iranian threat as the primary driver for Arab-Israeli normalization.

Al-Ghashian asserts that this binary view of regional politics is flawed. He points out that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have simultaneously improved relations with Iran, demonstrating that shared threats do not necessitate shared strategies. The region is undergoing a transformation, and Israel is not necessarily at its center. While acknowledging Iran as a genuine threat, he notes that Gulf states have recently faced more Iranian missile and drone attacks than Israel.

The recent defense agreement, dubbed the "Mecca Agreement," is presented not as an anti-Israel bloc, but as a reflection of a region seeking greater self-reliance in security matters. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, despite differences, are prioritizing the management of security challenges and deterrence. This initiative aims to complement, not replace, the US-led security architecture.

Israel could be a pillar in this emerging framework, but its current policies, particularly concerning Gaza and the West Bank, create a contradiction from a Saudi perspective. Al-Ghashian suggests that Israel's military strength, often seen as its primary asset for regional partnerships, is increasingly perceived as a source of uncertainty and risk. He concludes that for Israel to integrate into the new regional order, it must demonstrate reliability, restraint, and a shared vision, moving beyond a reliance on fear and uncertainty to build trust.