Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Form New Defense Pact Targeting Iran in Gulf Region

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a new trilateral defense alliance called the "Mecca Agreement," alongside a separate, less publicized defense pact between Pakistan and Kuwait. Gulf sources emphasized that these alliances are explicitly aimed at countering Iran, providing military support to countries that feel disadvantaged and attacked by Tehran. A Kuwaiti official close to the government told Kan News that the pacts are intended to protect member states from Iran, not to confront Israel. An unofficial Saudi source added that while Israel may be wary of Turkey, Turkey poses no threat to Israel, and the Mecca Agreement effectively undermines Iran through broad Muslim support.

In a related development, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Egypt is expected to join the pact soon. He stated that once technical issues are resolved, there is no reason Egypt would not participate, as the countries involved are already acting as alliance members. Prior to the recent tensions with Iran, Kan News reported that Saudi Arabia, following a recent reconciliation with the United Arab Emirates, is seeking to establish a new axis of Muslim countries as an alternative to the so-called "moderate axis" favored by Israel. Pakistan and Turkey, both already allied with Saudi Arabia, were mentioned as key players in this emerging bloc.