(JNS) The targeting of the Arab Gulf states by the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Saudi Arabia, as part of Iran’s response to the immense firepower unleashed against them by the combined forces of the United States and Israel, has driven Saudi Arabia to seek new alliances.
Riyadh’s poor experience with the Biden administration had convinced the kingdom of the need to diversify its alliances and depend less on the United States. Its worries have increased in light of Israel’s stunning performances against Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis and Iran, resulting in their seeking to build a regional balance of power. Saudi Arabia began by fostering an alliance with Pakistan, which commenced in September, with the signing of the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA).
The US-Israel war with Iran drove Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, to seek a security pact that would include Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt. It essentially creates a Sunni-Muslim accord with a combined population of 500 million.
Partnering with Pakistan, the sole Muslim nuclear power, affords Erdoğan’s Turkey, Egypt and Saudi...
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